BABY GUIDE
ENTERING KINDERGARTEN What Your Child Actually Needs To Know by Bianca Bujan When your child transitions from kiddie to kindy, the shift to schoolage student can be intimidating and overwhelming for new parents. All around you, parents seem to be prepping their little ones for the first day of school by teaching them how to write full sentences, read paragraphs aloud, complete math equations, and tie their shoes with ease, and you feel like your firstborn might fall behind once class begins. To help ease your apprehension, here’s an overview of what your child really needs to know for Kindergarten, so you can feel secure in sending your soon-to-be-scholar to their first day of school, totally prepared.
Is your child ready for Kindergarten? When it comes to being prepared for Kindergarten, you’d be surprised by what your child does and doesn’t actually need to know. Here’s a rundown of the key traits that indicate Kindergarten readiness: Your child should be able to independently take care of their own personal needs. This includes being able to dress themselves (but don’t worry, doing up buttons and tying shoelaces aren’t preschool prerequisites). They should also be able to go to the bathroom and wipe by themselves, and put on their shoes with minimal difficulty. Tip: Pack a set of backup clothes, because accidents happen. Also, to help simplify the shoe shuffle for teachers, send your child to school in slip-ons or shoes with velcro fasteners. It’s helpful if your child knows how to use a writing device with some control. Your child doesn’t need to be able to write full words to be ready for the classroom. Just being able to hold a pen, pencil or crayon in their hand, and make markings on paper, such as lines, symbols, and attempts at alphabet letters will suffice. It’s also helpful (but not mandatory) if they are able to trace or copy basic shapes. Being able to hold scissors properly is another asset in the classroom (with hand in the thumb-up position for cutting). Tip: While your child isn’t required to be able to write their name legibly, it’s definitely helpful for the teacher (and your child). Your child should be able to count from 1 to 10 (without skipping numbers). Leave addition, subtraction, and multiplication to the teachers and just make sure that your child can count. Don’t worry, they don’t need to name off the numbers to 100, just being able to count from 1 to 10 will do.
Colour recognition and naming is another helpful skill. Work with your child on naming and pointing out colours (ideally, they should be able to name or point out the colours in a box of eight crayons). It’s also helpful if they can name and recognize basic shapes (square, circle, triangle). Your child should know and be able to say their name and age. By Kindergarten, your little one should be able to say how old they are, and state their name when asked. They should also be able to recognize their name in print (ideally they should be able to recognize up to eight letters). Your child should be able to follow simple directions. When asked to perform a task, your child should be able to understand and follow through (ie: listen and then remember what they have been asked to do, such as, “Please take off your coat”). Ideally, they should able to follow two-step directions (such as do this, and then do this). Most importantly, your child should be able to listen, respect the personal space of others, be ready to follow rules, and be willing to cooperate. They should be ready to try independent experiences, and eager to learn and be part of a group.
How can you help your child prepare for a successful first school year? •
Read with your child regularly, pointing out words and images as you flip through the pages.
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Work with your child to build fine and gross motor skills (paint, play with play-dough, jump on a trampoline or play hopscotch).
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Practice independent play (at home and by trying out classes, such as swimming lessons where someone other than you is providing support and direction for your child).
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Visit the school a few times before the big first day (play at the playground, practice walking to and from school, or do a drive by so they are familiar with the building and its surroundings).
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Remain calm and positive at drop off (some parents feel anxious about leaving their child for the first time, but that nervousness can rub off on your child, causing them to worry as well).
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Pick a schedule that suits your child (if you think Kindergarten will overwhelm your child, keep the extracurricular activities to a minimum - at least until they’ve settled into their new routine).
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Introduce them to new friends (the more comfortable your child is with interacting with others, the easier it will be for them to make friends once they’re in the classroom).
Baby Guide 2019 | 2020 7
