Kindergarten Readiness

Introduction

Kindergarten marks the beginning of exciting new experiences for your child. These experiences include:

• Interacting with more people.
  Kindergarten students interact with other teachers, other children and school staff.
• New settings and activities.
  Your child will have opportunities to use a school gym, library, cafeteria, and ride a school bus.
• More structure and focus on learning.
  Kindergarten classes have a set routine and students spend time in small and large group settings learning new concepts and skills in language arts, math, science, social studies, and fine arts.

Spend time speaking with your child in a positive manner about these new, exciting experiences!

Part I - Is My Child Ready?

It is important to remember that children develop at different times and at their own pace. While letter recognition and writing his/her name are important, it is more important that your child is socially, emotionally, and physically ready to tackle the demands of school. Please feel free to contact your childs school if you have any questions.

In general, a child who is starting kindergarten should be able to demonstrate the following skills:

Personal and Social Readiness

• Uses the bathroom independently
• Dresses self and buttons/snaps shirts and pants and zips zippers
• Knows own age and birthday
• Separates from parents easily
• Responds appropriately to adult authority
• Pays attention for short periods of time to adult-directed tasks
• Demonstrates self-control
• Completes tasks willingly
• Gets along well and shares with others
• Takes turns when playing with friends
• Shows an interest in learning and coming to school

Fine and Gross Motor Readiness

• Traces basic shapes
• Uses crayons, scissors and glue correctly
• Throws or catches a large ball
• Bounces a large ball

Communication Readiness

• Speaks clearly and communicates needs
• Uses phrases and sentences of five to six words
• Can say his or her full name, address and phone number - including area code
• Knows parents/guardians first and last names
• Follows spoken directions and rules
• Listens to a story without interrupting

Basic Cognitive Readiness

• Identifies basic colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black
• Shows an interest in books and learning to read
• Recognizes the difference between letters and numbers
• Identifies some alphabet letters
• Recognizes some letter sounds
• Understands positional words such as up, down, over, under, beside
• Recognizes first and last name in print
• Colors and writes (scribbles, tries to write letters and numbers)
• Counts to 10
• Shows an interest in numbers and counting

Part II - Preparing for the School Year

Help your child prepare for this exciting school year by:

• Making sure he or she is receiving plenty of rest. Children in kindergarten usually need 10-12 hours of sleep each night.
• Serving nutritious and unhurried meals. Give your child a variety of healthy foods each day.
• Encouraging your child to be polite and to state feelings, instead of acting them out.
• Providing numerous opportunities for experiences with books.
• Helping your child begin practicing writing his or her name correctly. Kindergarten children will use the modern manuscript handwriting method and should write the first letter of their names with a capital letter and all other letters in lower case.

Part III - Plan to be Active in School

Active involvement in your childs school will help answer many of your questions and help your child feel better about entering school. You can be involved in your childs school by:

• Joining the PTA or PTO.
• Volunteering to help your school.
• Attending school events, parent conferences, and meetings.
• Contacting your childs teacher if you have questions or concerns.

Show your interest by:

• Asking your child about his or her favorite school activities.
• Reviewing papers and information that come home daily.
• Reviewing and signing (when appropriate) information that comes home in the weekly communication folder.
• Listening and asking questions about what your child says about school.
• Reading to your child every day!