We are often asked by parents how they can help their children prepare for kindergarten. While there are many suggestions and checklists out there, there are some simple ways to help children prepare for school.
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We are often asked by parents how they can help their children prepare for kindergarten. While there are many suggestions and checklists out there, there are some simple ways to help children prepare for school.
Here are some skills for parents of children in nursery to work on at home with your children.
To get your child ready for all-day kindergarten you can work on practical skills that improve their ability to do things for themselves.
Parents can help prepare their children for the transition to kindergarten by increasing their expectations for their child. From the time a baby is born, parents are accustomed to taking care of their children, from wiping their noses, zipping their jackets, and doing up their shoes. As they get older we sometimes become accustomed to ‘over-do’ things for our children. But in order to help your child be ready for success in kindergarten success, parents need to foster skils that encourage independence. We have provided a list of important skills parents can work on at home.
Try the “Pinch and Flip” method:
“Lay the pencil flat in front of the child with the lead pointing at the child,” he says. “Have the child pinch the pencil like they would pinch somebody else and flip the pencil back toward the child with the eraser going over the hand. Then rest it on the middle finger.”
At school, every morning, every recess and lunch your child will have to deal with putting on and taking off their shoes, boots, coats (and in the winter—snow pants, mitts and hats). You can help your child by working on these skills before school starts and when school starts by giving them lots of time getting dressed without being pressured.
Out the door
A great way to foster your children’s independence is to give them some say in picking their clothes, but make sure you do a test-run before school to check if their coats have easy-to grasp tabs and that their shoes can be put on by your child independently (without adult assistance).
Cubby control
In kindergarten, children will have a hook where they are expected to keep their things at school. Help them to practice keeping organized by getting your child to pick up after themselves. Let them bring their own things in from the car, hang up their coats, put their shoes away. Give them designated spots for their backpacks so they can start learning organizational habits.
Backpack management
Every day your child’s backpack needs to be checked for letters from the teacher, forms, or leftover foods. Do this with your child, not for them.
It can be challenging for little kids to learn patience, especially during conversations. Simply telling your child to wait for their turn may not be effective. Young children usually don’t have advanced enough social skills to recognize a lull in a conversation where it may be appropriate to insert themselves. One of the best ways to teach your child not to interrupt is to role model ways to interrupt politely. Instead of just cutting them off, say, “I’m sorry to have to interrupt you right now, but you need to get your shoes on so we can leave.”
It is also important to create a plan to show your child appropriate ways they can get your attention. For example, if you’re in the middle of an adult conversation, and they want to ask for permission to go outside, what should they do? Maybe they can give you a signal that they have a question by placing a hand on your leg. Then, when there’s a pause in the conversation, you can turn your attention to them.
If you always stop what you’re doing to give attention to a child who is interrupting, you’ll reinforce that interrupting is the most effective way to get attention. So make sure that when your child interrupts, you don’t automatically give them the response they are looking for. One of the best ways to stop the constant interrupting is to simply ignore them. At first, you can provide them with a gentle reminder such as, “You are interrupting our conversation and that’s rude. I will answer your question in a minute when it’s your turn.”
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