Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten
A frequently asked question from parents of pre-schoolers is " Is my child ready for kindergarten?" Parents should keep in mind that kindergarten isn't what it used to be! Today's kindergarteners are starting to learn how to write sentences, add and subtract, and work together to solve problems. Kindergarten isn't just for fun and games, even though good teachers strive to make classes fun so what your child does in school may seem like play.
In general, a child going into kindergarten should be able to:
- Follow spoken directions and obey rules.
- Listen without interrupting.
- Get along with others.
- Use words to express feelings.
- Speak clearly in whole sentences without using baby talk.
- Know personal information, name, age, month and day of birth, address, phone number, and the name of mother and father.
- Print name (not in all capital letters)
- Use the bathroom without help.
- Put on and take off shoes and coats without help.
- Identify basic colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, black, brown, purple, pink, and grey.
- Count to ten.
- Know how to hold and use crayons, pencils, and scissors.
- Recognize shapes, circle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval, and diamond.
- Know body parts, head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, shoulder, waist, hips, elbow, knee, ankle, heel, wrist, hand, foot, chin, fingernails and jaw.
- Match numbers 1 -5 with objects representing the number.
- Be able to focus on an activity for at least 10 minutes.
It goes without saying that children who start school ahead tend to stay ahead and those who start behind tend to stay behind all the way through.
So what can parents do to help prepare their child for kindergarten?
- Teach your child to think creatively and work through everyday problems.
- Read to your child.
- Assign chores at home even if it is as simple as taking the plates to the sink.
- Read to your child.
- Let your child practice opening milk cartons, lunch boxes, thermos, and zip locked bags. (practice closing bags also.)
- Read to your child.
- Give your child plenty of opportunities to cut, paste, write, and draw.
- Read to your child.
- Help them hold pencils, markers, and scissors correctly.
- Most importantly, read to your child and let them "read": the story back to you. Pretend reading is a first step toward reading.
One last consideration: Age does play an important role. State law requires that a child must be five (5) years of age on or before September 30th in order to enter kindergarten. However, not every five year old is ready for kindergarten. Your child may not be ready for kindergarten if:
- They cry easily over even the mildest correction from an adult.
- Can't hold a crayon or pencil well.
- Doesn't want to share and prefers to play alone.
- Has a very short attention span.
- Unable to use the bathroom alone.
Social development is a strong key in a positive kindergarten experience.
