Getting Ready For Kindergarten

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Here are some things you can practice at home to help your child get ready for kindergarten:

1. Skills that develop personal independence: using the washroom independently, washing their hands, opening and closing their backpack and lunchbox (as well as any containers inside), putting on and taking off their shoes and coat, follow simple directions with 1 or 2 steps.

2. Social skills: sharing, taking turns, asking for help, allowing someone else to go first, discuss feelings.

3. Letter/sound recognition activities: watch some short, fun videos such as this Letter Factory song, pick one letter (start with the first letter in your child’s name) and discuss the sound it makes then look for it in books or objects in the environment, check out some fun printables at funlearningforkids.com that you can do with your child.

4. Number activities: identify numbers in the environment, count a variety of objects, match numbers with pictures (see my Numbers to 10 Matching Activity freebie).

5. Name activities: point out their name in different contexts, practice identifying their name next to a few other names of friends or family, practice tracing their name, hide a name card and have your child find it.

6. Fine motor skills: drawing, painting, tracing, cutting with scissors, glueing with white glue and glue sticks, using tweezers to pick up small objects such as pompoms or beads.

7. Problem-solving skills: follow your child’s interests (such as creating art, cooking, building structures, conducting science experiments or exploring nature), brainstorm ideas, ask questions, research, try using different tools or materials, discuss challenges, reflect on what went well and what you could do differently.

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Here is a link from the Ontario Government about Preparing Your Child for Full-Day Kindergarten.