Over 30 years ago, author Robert Fulghum released a bestseller called All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. The book remains a bestseller today, and Fulghum’s wisdom is widely quoted. He points out that children learn many important life lessons during this pivotal year. Fulghum says that “in kindergarten we learn to share everything, play fair, clean up our own mess, and wash our hands before we eat.” If you have a child who will be 5 years old by August 31, what does your child really need to know to be “kindergarten ready”?
While there is no set list of tasks that a rising kindergartener needs to master prior to entering school, there are things that parents can do to make sure their child is ready. Some things are simply developmental, and others are things that a parent can work on daily. There are three areas to look at closely when considering kindergarten, and those are your child’s social, physical and academic readiness. Here are a few questions to ask yourself prior to registering your child for kindergarten:
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Social
- Is your child ready to learn? Does he ask about school? Is he eager to begin a routine?
- Does your child listen and communicate well? Is he able to share feelings and thoughts with others? Encourage your child to verbalize ideas, thoughts and frustrations.
- Does your child play well with other children? Is he eager to socialize with same-aged peers? Allowing your child to socialize is an important part of child development. Seek out opportunities for your child to play with same-aged peers in play groups, preschool, church and other informal activities.
Physical
- Can your child ride a bike with training wheels?
- Can your child skip, jump and climb? Observe him playing with others at fast-food play areas. Can he do things similar to those other same-aged peers are engaging in?
- Can your child hold a pair of scissors and cut a piece of paper? Surprisingly, this is a great indicator of your child’s grasp of fine-motor skills. If your child struggles, work alongside him or her to hone this skill.
- Can you child hold a pencil correctly?
Academic
- Does your child recognize the letters in his name? Have him practice tracing his name and sounding out the letters.
- Can your child count to at least 10? Is he able to recognize numbers and write them down?
- When you read a book to your child, does he recognize some words based on context and familiarity?
Deciding whether or not to enroll your child in kindergarten is a big step. Seek out trusted advice regarding your child’s ability to enter kindergarten successfully, and work daily with your child to make sure he or she is prepared. Most importantly, READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY. Reading is the cornerstone to your child’s early development.
Finally, don’t forget one of Robert Fulghum’s nuggets of kindergarten wisdom: “When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.”
For more information about Kindergarten Registration in the Iredell-Statesville Schools, visit its website.
Check out the Day In The Life of a Kindergartener video. Share this video with your child and talk about what it is like to be a student!