Coping Skills

• • Uses the toilet independently

  • Follows routines and expectations

  • Manages transitions and changes in routine

  • Tolerates frustration appropriately

  • Consistently separates easily from parents or caregivers

  • Demonstrates age-appropriate dressing and eating skills

  • Respect for others

  • Respects peers and adults

  • Respects his or her environment

  • Understands that positive and negative actions have consequences

Social Skills

• • Interacts appropriately with other children in large and small groups

  • Takes turns with adults and peers

  • Resolves conflicts with peers

Expressive Language Skills

• • Communicates with peers and adults

  • Communicates personal needs

  • Uses words to ask for help

  • Actively participates in conversations using reciprocal dialogue

  • Responds to open-ended questions

Receptive Language Skills

• • Listens attentively in large and small groups

  • Follows 2-step directions independently (at onset of Kindergarten)

Attention and Focus

• • Sustains attention during adult-directed activities for 10 minutes

  • Sustains attention during self-selected activities for 15 minutes

  • Exhibits impulse control

Academic Skills

• • Identifies colors

  • Identifies simple shapes

  • Counts to 20

  • Counts items up to 10 with one-to-one correspondence

  • Identifies written numerals 1 - 10

  • Holds a writing implement and scissors with functional grasp

  • Understands concepts of print

    • how to hold a book

    • how to track words with finger from left to right

  • Recognize characters/settings in a story

  • Understands role of author and illustrator

  • Pre-reads a story and re-tells the story from pictures

  • Recognizes first name with first letter uppercase and the rest lowercase

  • Writes first and last name

  • Identifies uppercase letters

  • Identifies lowercase letters

  • Recognizes letter sounds

• • Ensure that your child uses the toilet independently; encourage your child to wipe when necessary, flush the toilet and wash his/her hands after each use

  • Wear clothes that he/she can manage independently

  • Encourage your child to dress him/herself in the morning; before going out to play, have your child put his/her shoes on the correct feet, put on his/her jacket and zip or button it; in snowy weather, encourage your child to put on snow pants and boots on the correct feet

  • Encourage your child to use a spoon or fork for food rather than fingers

  • Use meal times and car rides to encourage conversations

  • Allow children to experience and resolve conflict; help your child solve problems by offering alternative ways to do something or suggesting some words to use to resolve a conflict

  • Prepare your child for transitions and routines with the use of timers (practice routines on the weekend when you are not in a rush to get to school)

  • Encourage your child to express him/herself with words especially when becoming upset (e.g., not having immediate access to a desired item); encourage your child to identify the problem and possible solutions and then help your child to work out a solution

  • Ensure that your child uses the toilet independently; encourage your child to wipe when necessary, flush the toilet and wash his/her hands after each use

  • Model the use of phrases like “May I have a turn?” when playing a game or having a conversation

  • Practice 2-step directions, using words like “First, then”; ask your child to repeat the directions back to you

• • Read daily aloud books with rich vocabulary and use new words as you play and talk together

  • Sing simple nursery rhymes, read poetry, practice repeating rhyming words, and make up funny rhyming words

  • Read books that are fictional and informational texts; ask questions “Who, what, when, where, why and how” about the story; predict what may happen next; make a connection to your own life experiences

  • Story telling about places you go, family history, whats happens during their day, who they played with and favorite experiences of the day

  • Print your child’s name whenever possible, such as on drawings; encourage your child to write his/her name, while identifying the letter in their name

  • Discuss the parts of a story; identify the author and illustrator

  • Provide clipboards, paper or sticky notes to encourage writing and practice holding pencils, markers, or crayons

  • Draw figure and objects, practicing coloring within the lines

  • Count items in your house, such as pretzels for snack, toy cars, or steps as you walk

  • Sort items by same or different, and into categories: smallest to largest, putting together items of the same color, shape, or pattern

  • Visit the library; book suggestions and class schedules can be found online at http://www.norwalkpl.org/

  • Provide opportunities for your child to play and participate in groups, such as library story hours and neighborhood groups

  • Encourage the use of play dough; practice stringing beads and using scissors to strengthen finger/hand muscles

  • Read print in the community – store signs, names of food in grocery store, and labels