Dear Parents,
The following is a comprehensive list of things we feel contribute to a successful start to kindergarten. We want to make sure you feel empowered to support your child as they prepare for their first year of school. Please use this time during the summer to help your child with as many of the items as possible. Please let your child’s teacher know if there are areas in which your child excels and/or struggles. Thank you!
Take me there and walk around with me.*
Point out my drop-off and pick-up points.*
Show me where my new classroom is and where the office, cafeteria, restroom, and playground are.*
Find out as much as we can about my new school.
The registration time for kindergarten is mid-summer be- on the lookout for a postcard in the mail.
The principal’s name is Mr. Hawley.
My teacher’s name is Mrs. Sanchez and her assistant is Mrs. Starbuck.
The forms you’ll need to help with registration include: birth certificate, proof of address, social security card, and immunization records (Oregon CIS form)
The immunizations I’ll need are: Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, Hib (for children under 5 years of age) (with some exceptions)
The yearly calendar for my school is? Available during registration
How do I get to and from school? Parent pickup, buses, walking, etc.
Does my school serve breakfast? Yes
Set up a regular routine for waking up, getting dressed, eating, brushing my teeth, etc.
Put me to bed and get me up at the new times for two weeks before school starts.
Read with me at the same time every day for 20 minutes or more.
If needed, walk me to the bus stop and point out some landmarks for me.
Make sure my immunizations are up-to-date.
Make sure I have regular check-ups with my doctor, including checking my sight and hearing.
Make sure I visit the dentist and keep my teeth clean.
Make sure I get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
Help me eat healthy meals and snacks, limiting the amount of sugar I eat.
Encourage me to run, jump, play outside and get exercise.
Limit the amount of time I spend watching TV, playing video games, and other screen time.
Show me where they are when we visit my new school.
Go with me into public restrooms when we are away from home.
Teach me to use the restroom by myself and clean well, flush, and wash my hands.
Teach me how to snap, button, and zip my pants and/or skirt.
Help me memorize my full name, my address and phone number and your names.
Teach me how to spell my first name and recognize it when it is written.
Send me to school every school day unless I am sick.
Talk with my teacher on a regular basis about how I am doing.
Attend parent meetings at my new school including Meet the Teacher Night in August and my Curriculum Night in the early fall.
Volunteer to help out at school activities.
Talk to the teachers and learn about their expectations for me.
Talk with me about school. Help me see that starting school is a very special event.
Let me know you are excited about me starting kindergarten.
Listen carefully to my thoughts and concerns about my new school.
Help me set up a special place in our home where I can do my homework and read.
Teach me that we have rules at home, at school, and in our community and they are there to keep me safe and help me learn.
Teach me to follow directions by giving me 2-3 steps for simple chores. Give me age-appropriate responsibilities at home – for example, ask me to pick up my toys, make my bed, or set the table for dinner.
Teach me how to work alone on simple tasks and do things for myself.
Help me learn to share with other children and how to help others.
Help me learn to wait my turn and teach me how to stand in line (at stores, the bank, etc).
Teach me to quietly sit in a circle for a story with my friends.
Help me learn to clean up after myself.
Teach me to take care of my toys, materials, and supplies.
Be patient and let me develop at my own pace.
Praise me for my strengths and little accomplishments.
Pay attention to me and listen to my ideas.
Help me feel good about all the things I can already do.
Teach me that all my feelings are okay, but not all my actions are okay. For example, it’s okay to be upset, but not okay to hit somebody.
Teach me ways to calm myself down when I get frustrated. For example, teach me to take deep breaths, count to myself or sit in a quiet place until I feel better.
Teach me how to greet others by saying “Hello, my name is __________.”
Show me ways to make new friends and join in playing with others. Find opportunities for me to play with other children my age.
Help me understand how I can be friends with children that are different from me.
Teach me what to do when someone hurts my feelings.
Help me learn to show kindness and empathy toward others.
Talk with me about my day during dinner time.
Talk with me about the things I am already interested in.
Teach me how to know when it’s my turn to speak and when I need to listen.
Teach me it is important to look at others when I listen.
Teach me words to describe my feelings and needs, and when to use them. Teach me words like angry, happy, or sad to help me communicate my feelings.
Ask me open-ended questions that start with who, what, and why.
Help me learn to ask questions and learn how to answer questions.
Help me be comfortable asking adults for help.
Read with me every day. Take me to the library or make a homemade book with me.
Share stories with me and ask questions about the stories we tell or read together.
Talk with me every day explaining the purpose and reasons behind what I see.
Encourage me to tell about things I see using shapes, colors, textures, size, etc.
Sing songs with me, especially children’s songs, and say nursery rhymes with me.
Teach me the names of all of the letters in the alphabet and help me recognize them.
Help me identify the first sound in a word.
Help me learn to count aloud to 20 and recognize the numbers 0-10.
Help me learn how to sort items by shape, color, or size.
Teach me to use school tools like pencils, erasers, crayons, child-safe scissors, etc.
Teach me to scribble, draw, and write letters and numbers, color, paint, cut with scissors, and work puzzles.
Encourage me to try new things.
Teach me how to always do my best and try.
Teach me to play and use my imagination and create.