Things to Remember About Your Kindergartener

• Your child is an individual.

• Age is not a foolproof method of predicting school readiness.

• All children learn different skills at different times and mature at different rates.

• If your child is unable to do some activity, do not be afraid to discontinue it and return to it at a later date when your child has had time for further growth.

• Enjoy your child just as he or she is right now.

• Keep in mind that not all children love school at all times.

• Your positive attitude toward school is your child's biggest asset.

• Help your child develop an interest and curiosity for learning.

• Take the time to listen and answer questions.

• Turn everyday activities into a broadening, learning experience.

Get READY!

Kindergarten is going to be a wonderful learning experience! Use the activities here to get your child excited about his or her first day of school.

Does your child know:

Does your child:

His or her first name?

His or her age?

His or her parent(s) name(s)?

His or her birthday?

His or her street address?

The town where he or she lives?

His or her phone number?

Where to go after school?

Choose to look at story books as a way of entertaining him/herself?

Recognize his or her name in print?

Use scissors and glue at home?

Go to bed at a regular time with 9 to 10 hours of sleep?

Get SET!

Can your child:

Draw or color more than a simple scribble?

Tie a knot or fasten shoes?

Zip or button a coat?

Skip across a room?

Walk backward for a distance of 5 to 6 feet?

Stand on one foot for 5 to 10 seconds?

Alternate feet walking down stairs?

Walk a straight line?

Take care of his or her personal toilet needs?

Cross a residential street safely?

Be away from you for several hours without being upset?

Play and share toys with other children for 15 to 20 minutes without difficulty?

Repeat a series of 4 numbers without practice? ("Say after me, 6-1-4-9.")

Repeat a sentence of 5 to 8 words after hearing it once?

Remember instructions and carry out 2 to 3 simple tasks in the home?

Pay attention to a short story when it is read and answer simple questions about it?

Can your child tell you:

Count to 10 in correct order?

Arrange or identify sets of objects up to 5? (5 animals in 10 pictures; 5 circles in 10 shapes)

Put together a puzzle of 3 to 6 pieces?

Catch a large ball on a bounce?

Demonstrate coordinated hand movements such as stacking blocks, winding toys, etc.?

Supply the last word to the following sentences"

• A fire is hot; an ice cube is _____.

• An airplane goes fast; a turtle goes _____.

• Sally is a girl; Tom is a _____.

How many legs a dog has?

What a key is for?

Which is faster, a bicycle or motorcycle?

What his or her eyes are used for?

Why sweaters, shoes and hats are the same? Or why corn, peas, and spinach are the same?

Colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, brown)

Shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, diamond, oval)