How To Prepare Your Child For Kindergarten

Kindergarten is such a fun time for your child, and even as a parent. They will leave home for a good amount of the day, and begin their learning experience, develop independence, self-reliance and more. Below are some ways you can help get your child get ready for Kindergarten, by teaching them! These are skills that can help them transition easier to school. Your child may already know these skills, and if so that is great but if not we’re here to help!

By working with your child a little before the school year begins, it can help give them get a little head start and build excitement for this new chapter in their life and hopefully lessen any stress they may feel. Make sure to always show school is exciting and fun, and not to show you are sad they are leaving. By doing fun activities, it can help them to see what school will be like.

Focus on Social Life

When you are out and your child is around other kids and even adults, help them engage with others. Being able to play with others and join in will help them socially when they go to school! It can help reduce anxiety because they won’t feel intimidated when other children are around and they will just join in with whatever the other kids are doing.

Holding Pencil or Crayon Correctly

This is something you can work with your child on, is gripping a pencil or crayon correctly. With the thumb and forefinger supporting the tip, like a crab claw!

Practice Name Writing

Working with your child on how to write their name is great. Most kids will learn how to do this even in preschool, but it is okay if they can do just a little of their name. Writing their name will not be perfect at this stage, but it can be a start.

Read Daily to Child

Reading is so important, and make sure to do this daily with your child. Talk about the words in the book, and what is happening in the story. Ask your child to guess what happens next in the book. It is a great way to get them to use their imagination, learn to sit and listen and more.

Know Some Letters of Alphabet

Your child should know some letters of the alphabet. This can be letters in their name, or ones that you teach them. Grab some flash cards or even coloring books with the alphabet to help teach them.

Speak in Complete Sentences

Working with your child on speaking is really important. Your child should be able to speak in complete sentences when they are talking to you.

Know a Few Sight Words

Most schools ask that parents work with their child so they can start knowing sight words before school You child doesn’t have to know a ton of sight words, even a few is a head start.

Use Scissors, Glue, Etc

Your child will do a lot of crafts in school, and they will use scissors, glue, crayons often. So make sure they are familiar and know how to use these pretty easily. Granted they may not be masters at scissors, but they have the basic concept.

Know Name, Address, Etc

Teaching your child their full name, address, birthday, and even your phone number is great. These are all good things for your child to know.

Go to Bathroom Alone

I know some schools require your child to be potty trained, and at this age most are. It is recommended that they know how to go to the bathroom by themselves with no troubles.

Count to 10

Working on teaching your child to count is great, and 10 is a great number to get up to!

Follow 2-3 Step Instructions

Try asking your child to do something with multiple instructions to see if they can follow. Go to bathroom, flush, and wash their hands. Go get your shoes and put them on, or grab your coat and go to the car. They should be able to follow these simple multi-step instructions.

Manners

Teach your child to say please and thank you, and to respect others. That if a child is playing with a toy they know to wait their turn. Or if they are asking for something to say please. Your child might forget here and there, but if they have the general idea that is a great starter!

Not sure where to start? Use this FREE Canada Day Themed Printable Learning Activity Pages for Preschoolers.

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