Getting ready for kindergarten

Cut, Color & Play

Community programs help children get ready for kindergarten

Adeline Trivilino, 4, sharpens her pencil skills during a prekindergarten class at Kiddie Academy in South Fayette in March.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

By Andrea Iglar

Teaching preschoolers to cut with scissors and control a crayon is just as important as teaching them their ABCs.

This is the idea behind kindergarten readiness, the practice of preparing children to go to school.

While some preparation is more academic—counting numbers, recognizing letters, singing the alphabet— kindergarten readiness focuses on helping 4- and 5-year-olds develop their muscles, independence and social savvy so they are ready to start learning as soon as they hit the classroom.

During a kindergarten readiness program at the South Fayette Township Library in March, five-year-olds Leo Chen, left, and Nolan Rectenwald pick up pom-pom balls with plastic pincers. The task strengthens their fingers—a prerequisite for being able to correctly write with a pencil and cut with scissors in kindergarten.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

South Fayette resident Danielle M. Puhatch, a pediatric occupational therapist, said honing emotional, social and physical skills prepares children for academics.

“Having your whole body ready for kindergarten is important,” she said.

South Fayette resident Danielle Puhatch, far right, and her friend Grayson play with a puzzle. Ms. Puhatch, a pediatric occupational therapist, says playing helps prepare children for school.

Submitted photo

In the South Fayette School District, children can enter the half-day kindergarten program if they are five years old by September 1.

South Fayette kindergartners begin learning letters and numbers during their second week of classes. By the end of the school year, they are expected to be able to read, add and subtract.

Janelle Reck, a kindergarten teacher at South Fayette Elementary School, said some of the most important skills for incoming kindergartners are saying their full name, asking for help and independently completing tasks like zipping their coat or packing their backpack.

“The more that they can do, the more efficient and smoothly the day runs,” Mrs. Reck said. “It helps them learn because then they are just ready to go.”

Many options exist for kindergarten readiness, including preschool programs, library programs and informal family activities.

Anabella Tarabishi, 5, makes the sign for "friends" at the South Fayette Township Library's kindergarten readiness program in March.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

The South Fayette Township Library offers a free kindergarten readiness program for children entering kindergarten this fall. Weekly activities run through April 20. Another session is scheduled for April 26 to June 14 at the Bridgeville Public Library.

The first library class in March focused on cooperation and friendship. Seven children began by sharing their name and favorite color, and then they sang a song together. They learned the American Sign Language action for “friends.”

Nicole Seitz, children’s outreach specialist for the library, led several games and activities.

“Because we are getting ready for kindergarten, we’re learning about listening and raising your hand and sharing and following directions,” she told the 4- and 5-year-olds.

Isaac Olexa, 5, participate in the library's kindergarten readiness program in March.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

Another activity involved using large tweezers to pick up pom-pom balls and place them on a plate—a finger-strengthening exercise that prepares kids to correctly write with a pencil and cut with scissors.

During one game, the children stood in line until Ms. Seitz called upon one to take a certain number of steps forward as a giant step, baby step, bunny hop or ballerina twirl.

The children also worked together to keep a ball on top of a moving parachute, and they listened to Ms. Seitz read a story.

Finding images in an “I Spy” book strengthened their eyes, helping them find details and spot items that were the same or different—a skill that helps when preparing to read and write letters.

Later sessions built upon past skills. Topics included practicing fine motor skills by writing, drawing, cutting and gluing, as well as learning about shapes, identifying patterns, and sorting by color, shape and size.

“They need to know it is fun to learn new things, and then they’ll want to do it more,” Ms. Seitz said after class.

Pre-K teacher Megahn Howard works on classroom skills with four- and five-year-olds at Kiddie Academy in South Fayette.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

Nolan Rectenwald, 5, attended the library program. His mother, Jill Gregory, said he also attends a preschool program.

“Any exposure to kindergarten preparation and education I can give him is important,” she said. “And it gives him a chance to socialize with his future classmates.”

At Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care in South Fayette, 42 children are preparing to attend kindergarten this fall. Pre-K teacher Cathy Boyle, who holds a degree in elementary education, said all activities in her class help the kids get ready for “big school.”

“Preschool is now what kindergarten used to be,” Ms. Boyle said. “It is really preparing them.”

Mireya Madden, 5, of South Fayette concentrates on coloring during her pre-K class at Kiddie Academy.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

Kiddie Academy operates year-round, following a curriculum and “graduating” children each spring. Pre-K teacher Megahn Howard enjoys seeing the children grow throughout the year.

“The social and emotional skills they are going to need, not only in kindergarten but later in life, start now,” she said. “To see that spark when they start being able to make the connections, it’s wonderful.”

South Fayette School District offers the Little Lions Early Learning Academy for 4- and 5-year-olds.

Early childhood education teacher Desiree Dennison said the programs prepare children to receive academic knowledge in kindergarten.

She said the social aspects of being in a classroom are important, especially for children who may not have been in social settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

South Fayette preschoolers Maddoc Boxx, top, and Lily Warnock share a laugh at Kiddie Academy in March. Learning social skills is an important part of kindergarten readiness.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

Everyone involved in kindergarten readiness agrees that parents are key to children’s success in kindergarten.

“We have to be a team with the parents,” pre-K teacher Ms. Boyle said. “They do reinforce what we’re doing.”

Some of the best preparation involves activities like finger painting, playing in sand and climbing on playgrounds. If that sounds like good old-fashioned play, it’s because it is. “Play is essential for learning your own body and how it moves,” Ms. Puhatch said.

Physical movement builds muscles, sharpens the senses and develops fine motor skills—the refined movements of small muscles in hands and fingers.

Children who spend too much time with screens often lack finger strength because they use only their thumbs for video games, Ms. Puhatch said.

“What we’re seeing is their hands are super-weak, and they can’t manipulate pencils and crayons," she said.

She recommended parents encourage children to engage in hands-on activities, noting that even simple chores and household tasks, such as carrying shopping bags or washing dishes, can help hone skills.

Four- and five-year-old work practice classroom skills at Kiddie Academy in South Fayette.

Photo by Andrea Iglar

Another good practice is to expose children to a variety of sights, sounds, textures, smells and foods, so they are less likely to be distracted or alarmed by unfamiliar sensory input at school.

Outings to parks, grocery stores, museums and other places provide a range of experiences to preschoolers.

“The more exposure you can give your children to sensory experiences like movement and sound and touch and taste,” Ms. Puhatch said, “the easier it is for them to be in different environments and be ready to learn.”

Kindergarten registration: southfayette.org/enrollment.