School Readiness
Parents and caregivers can do a lot to help prepare their child for Kindergarten before the first day. Below is a list of skills that will be useful for children starting Kindergarten. We recognise that not all children will have these skills as everyone develops at a different pace, so this is intended only as a guide so that starting school might just be a little easier.
Encourage your child to attempt the things mentioned below, but don't worry if your child can't do all of them. Talk to the Kindergarten teacher, and together you can support and assist your child's learning.
The following are some suggestions on ways to help your child in a specific area of learning.
Language
Here are some suggestions to help your child develop language skills:
talk to other people about familiar objects and events
answer and asks simple questions
make needs known
follow simple instructions
use books for enjoyment or for looking at pictures
identify pictures in books, magazines, on television or video
use a variety of things (pens, pencils, textas, paintbrushes, sticks in the dirt) to draw, to scribble or to write
join in singing familiar songs
Mathematics
Here are some suggestions to help your child develop skills in mathematics:
recognise that numbers can be used to count - uses words such as many, a lot, more, less
identify things in a group that are different
see differences in shapes
differentiate between opposites - up and down, under and over, in front and behind, day and night
Physical skills
Here are some suggestions to help your child develop physical coordination:
use scissors to cut along a straight line
enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor play
can put on and take off jumpers, shoes, socks independently
can they open and close a lunchbox or small containers
make and design things using a variety of materials
Social/Emotional/Personal Development
Here are some suggestions to help your child with their personal development:
set up play dates for your child to play with a friend
have time away from parents with carers, grandparents, friends and so on
show them what resilience looks like
encourage them to pack and carry their own bag to childcare
allow them to make some of the decisions, like - what the family will have for tea (healthy options), what clothes they would like to wear and more
have family play-time ... and get into character
organise a picnic with a packed lunch and encourage your child to open it and eat the food by themselves
encourage your child to do simple things for themselves, like blowing their own nose, pulling on their own socks and many other things
encourage your child to help with simple household tasks like setting the table, watering plants, helping to unpack groceries, helping siblings and various others.