School Supplies

Things to consider when buying footwear for the new school year:

• Velcro: Velcro shoes are the best option, it will be the easiest and safest option for your child. Please avoid shoes with laces.

• Size: Ensuring the shoe or boot is the correct size will allow your child to have an easier time independently removing and putting on their shoes. 

• Grip: We do a lot of running in Kindergarten, both outside and in the gym. Having footwear with good grip is essential! 

Note: A large part of the kindergarten curriculum is promoting self confidence, independence, and self help skills to our students. A way to help them develop some of these skills at home is to encourage them to practice independently putting on and removing their footwear!

Things to consider when choosing a backpack:

• Size: When choosing a backpack please allow room for lunch boxes, shoes, note totes, artwork, and a change of clothes. At any given time all of these items could be in your child's backpack! 

Note: Having your child practice packing and unpacking a backpack over the summer will increase your child's self confidence in September!

Things to consider when looking at tupperware and a lunchbox:

• Size: At Knoxdale we follow a balanced day model for snack and lunch. Meaning we eat twice during the day. Ensuring the lunchbox is big enough to pack two small meals in (morning snack and lunch) will be helpful.

• Labeling: While students are adjusting to the balanced day model, it can help to label the meals with either a 1 or a 2. So the students can easily know which meal to eat.

• Ease of use: Make sure you are giving your child containers that are easy to open and close on their own. 

Note: Over the summer, a fun way to see which tupperware is best for your child is to serve them snacks and lunch in tupperware and lunchbox! This way you can see which kind is best for your child.

A huge milestone for Kindergarten students is zipping up their own sweaters and coats. A great way to start developing this fine motor skill is starting the zipper for your child, then encouraging them to zip the zipper the rest of the way!