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Helping Your Child Get Ready to Start School

Educators and child development experts agree that there are some important skills children need to make a successful transition to kindergarten. What comes to mind for many parents is the need for their children to have early “academic” skills, such as reading, writing, and mathematics. Although some knowledge in these areas will help your child be better prepared for kindergarten, what is most important are your child’s social and emotional skills. These include: 

• Feeling excited and comfortable about starting kindergarten.  
• Knowing what kindergarten will be like.
• Feeling good about himself or herself.
• Knowing how to get along with others.
• Knowing how to talk with others and to listen.
• Knowing when and how to ask for help.

In addition to social and emotional skills children entering kindergarten need to be active, eager learners. This includes: 

• Feeling excited about learning.
• Knowing how to try new or hard things and keep trying even when it seems too hard.
• Knowing many ways to express himself or herself.
• Feeling good about his or her family and culture, and learning about other cultures.

Possessing some early, or pre-academic skills, will help your child get off to a good start in kindergarten. The types of skills your child should have include: 

• Familiarity with words and books.
• Knowledge of shapes, sizes and colors.
• Ability to count and understand that numbers have meaning.

Physical development is another important aspect of kindergarten readiness. Give your child ample opportunities to: 

• Take care of his or her own personal needs, such as going to the bathroom, washing hands, putting on a coat, and eating.
• Use his or her hands and fingers to do small tasks, such as puzzles, drawing, cutting with scissors.
• Use his or her arms, legs and body to make big movements, such as running, jumping, climbing, dancing.  

Finally, your child’s basic needs must be met before going to school each day. Make sure your child is fed, rested and dressed for the weather.  

For more information about helping your child get off to a good start in kindergarten, visit the Getting School Ready website at www.gettingschoolready.org.