Preparing Your Child For Kindergarten
I should probably term this post preparing mommy for kindergarten, because I will be the one next year crying as my boys disappear into the doors of their elementary school. I happen to want my boys to have fun and, of course, succeed, but I am a little jealous that someone else will now be able to watch my children learn and grow. The alternative would be to home school but I think I lack the patience to do it and feel like my boys just want to get out there and go.
So with this being their last year at home, I am decided to investigate little way in which I can get them ready for kindergarten. Here are some really great ideas to give them a leg up.
Practice writing his/her first and last name
1. Have your child practice writing his/her name using a variety of tools such as a Magna Doodle, crayons, pencils, and markers. Check that your child is gripping the writing utensil correctly. You may even consider having your child practice writing his/her name using different items around the house such as pudding, rice, sand, or shaving cream.
*** Be sure that your child uses a capital letter only at the beginning and lowercase for the rest of their name. So far my boys can only do all capitals, I guess it’s time to teach them lower case!
2. Write your child’s name in large letters (or use magnetic letters). Say each letter aloud as you write or place it so your child can associate the name of the letter with the shape of the letter.
3. Cut apart the letters of your child’s name (or use magnetic letters) and have him/her put them back in the correct order saying the name of each letter while doing so. (Start with just the first name, adding the last name only when they have mastered this.)
4. Label your child’s door or other objects so his/her name can be seen in print.
Practice recognizing and writing the numbers 0 to 10 (or higher)
1. Read and enjoy counting books together.
2. Point out numbers in license plates, in the store, in your home, and all around you.
3. Use magnetic numbers to have your child practice naming them. Have your child put the numbers for your phone number in order saying each number while doing so.
4. Practice writing numbers with a variety of materials such as pencils, crayons, markers, sidewalk chalk, etc…as in name writing above.
5. Have your child count object like their snacks, or buttons on their shirt
Practice naming letters in the alphabet correctly.
1. Recognize letters on street signs, in restaurants, and on billboards and favorite books
Recognize Primary Colors
1. Sort candies, bright colored buttons, etc by colors.
Practice naming and recognizing basic shapes
1. Look around the room and recognize shapes in your home
2. Practice drawing and recognizing shapes
Practice your phone number and address
1. Have your child practice dialing their number on a play phone
Practice Coloring in the lines and Cutting in straight lines
1. We like to cut out shapes, and pictures in magazines.
2. Provide coloring pages with large illustration and well defined lines and challenge them to stay within the lines.
These are just some basic things you can do with your child to get them ready. If your child seems frustrated after so many attempts then stop and try again another day. I find that when they get frustrated all learning flies out the window. Make learning fun and interesting as if it is no big deal and they seem to do so much better.
I know I am not ready for them to go, but if I can get them as ready as they can be for the classroom, it will help them succeed!
I still have a year or two before I can get my youngest prepared, but I’ll definitely remember these ideas – thank you for sharing!
These are all great tips! My oldest just started Kindergarten so I need these!
My little boy JUST started kindergarten and I WAS the mommy walking down the hallway after I dropped him off at his classroom, BAWLING my eyes out. It was horrible for both of us 🙁 I miss him so much but know it is the best thing for him in the long run. Great tips, thanks for posting them!
Great tips!
I was just talking to my husband the other day about how kindergarten has changed since I was 4-5. Use to be kindergarten was where you learned colors, numbers and letters. You colored, played with toys, listened to stories and took naps. Now you need to know all that before starting kindergarten. Pre-school is now what kindergarten use to be and if you don’t know it before going you’re going to be behind everyone else.
Great tips! We did all of these with my youngest and he was ready for Kindergarten this year!
Wonderful tips!
Those are some wonderful tips.
Great tips! My middle child just started Kinder and 12 days in her teacher took us aside at open house to say their classroom moves too slowly for our daughter. WOO HOO 🙂
Great information, I so remember getting my little kiddos ready for that important year.
Great tips.
My daughter went to a preschool that was supposed to prepare her for K. It didn’t. I had to take care of that.
I swear with each kid it has become harder to feel like I have done what I need to for them to be ready. Not because of lack of trying but because each one has been less and less interested. BUT then I found out that they were in need of glasses. So I offer that to those who find their kids struggling….mine never gave a real sign that they couldn’t do it because they couldn’t see
Great ideas!
I remember that day, so well. I cried all day long. 🙂 Good tips! I have a degree in education, so I used it well for the first 5 years. So my son was more than ready academically. It was more socially that he needed the work (being an only child). Now eight, he doesn’t have a problem in the “social” department. 🙂
Good ideas! Mine’s in “school” aready, so they will do this. 🙂
Those are some really great ideas! My 4 yr old is in preschool this year but I think adding this stuff in the afternoons and days when she’s not htere would really help.
It’s interesting how prepared they need to be nowadays. When I hit kindergarten, I was a blank slate!
Great tips!
very good tips!
I’ve heard from other parents in my area that they were disappointed with what their children learned in preschool.