Upon entry to kindergarten, you can do many things to prepare your child.  You can prepare them to:

• Go to the bathroom by themselves

• Hold a pencil properly

• cut with scissors

• recognize letters in their name

• know basic shapes

• recognize some numbers

• know most of their colors

• sit and listen to a story

• follow 2 to 3 step oral directions

• teaching them to master tying, nose wiping, washing hands, clothing

Socially, the children will be part of a cooperative classroom culture when they are in Kindergarten.  You can help them to be successful by preparing them to:

• Know how to play nicely with other children, and how to use their words to solve problems.

• Know how to share and care with others.

• Play games to learn turn taking and "losing gracefully"

More tips for a successful start:

• Talk to your child as often as possible.  For example, talk about the colors of the vegetables in the grocery store.

• Make reading part of the daily routine.  Try to find 10-15 minutes each day to sit down, read and talk about a book.

• Play listening games.  Hide a small object and give your child directions on how to find it.

• Sing songs and play rhyming games.

• Point out letters and numbers in everyday places.

• Offer your child lots of encouragement.  Children who are self-confident learn to read and write more easily.

• Take your child to parks where s/he can socialize with other children.

Katie Jesse

Cristina Losada

Laurie Ponos

Sarah Hannaleck

Melissa Zieper