Spending quality time with your child will help prepare them for kindergarten.
Sending your child to kindergarten can be overwhelming. You may be sad that your baby is growing up so quickly, or you may worry that she is not prepared. Being five years of age prior to the beginning of the school year is the main requirement for entering kindergarten, but kindergarten educators do expect new kindergartners to possess certain skills. If your child can master these skills before entering kindergarten, the transition will be easier.
Approaches to Learning
Observe your child's ability to learn. Evaluate his ability to explore and enjoy discovery through play. Determine whether he can express himself through movement and music. Your child should be able to pay attention to a task for approximately 15 minutes and continue with a task even when it becomes difficult.
Social and Emotional Development
Determine whether your child is at the proper social development and emotional development level. She should be able to participate appropriately in a group, follow basic rules and routines and show independence when she is separated from you. A child entering kindergarten should also be beginning to show concern for the feelings of others and be able to express her feelings appropriately.
Language Development
Evaluate your child's language skills. Your child should be able to speak in a way that is understandable to adults who are not familiar with his regular conversational skills. Your child should also be able to understand one, two and three step commands. Recognizing letters of the alphabet as well as the letters of the child's name is beneficial. An interest in reading books and listening to stories will also benefit your child.
Physical Development
Climbing is a developmental task that children learn prior to entering kindergarten.
Evaluate your child's general physical condition. Ensuring that your child is current on their vaccinations is necessary as she enters kindergarten. The child should get regular medical and dental check-ups, eat balanced meals and obtain enough sleep at night. Running, jumping, throwing a ball, swinging and climbing are skills that your child should know prior to entering kindergarten. She should also demonstrate proficiency in self-help skills including the use of the toilet, hand washing, dressing and eating.
General Knowledge
Your child should be able to demonstrate skills in basic math concepts (counting to ten), identifying shapes, understanding spatial concepts (inside and outside, up and down), recognizing colors and having a sense of self and family. These skills can be developed by playing games, drawing pictures and using flash cards daily. By spending time with your child, you can instill a love of learning and an excitement for school.
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