Kindergarten is a considerable and important milestone. Around this time of year, families are typically registering their children for class. Once they do, some parents are presented with the "Kindergarten Readiness Checklist."This can seem quite daunting. Especially when most parents do not realize that their child is expected to be "ready" for kindergarten. The items listed are things most parent associate with what they expect their children to learn from their kindergarten classroom.
But, don't despair!
What most parent also fail to realize is that they can, and are most likely already in the practice of preparing children at home through every day activities. This can be from holding a pencil (or crayon, marker, whatever!) in the correct manner to empathizing and caring for their peers.
Schools break up their readiness checklists into seven parts:
- Social and emotional maturity
- Physical abilities
- Language skills
- Cognitive abilities
- Literacy skills
- Math skills
- Knowledge of personal information
The language may seem startling, but these are things that children are doing already, and have most likely been doing them for a long time, without much effort from parents. Abilities such as following two and three step instructions, using toddler scissors, and recognizing shapes, colors and letters of the alphabet are things that most children have been doing on a daily basis by the time they are five-years-old.
According to Scholastic.com, rather than drilling the ABCs into children heads, kindergarten teachers are looking for learning tendencies, not specific information.
Kindergarten teachers told Scholastic, "There are equally - if not more - important readiness skills that set the stage for your child's learning. Raising an eager learner is the goal, and it can be achieved easily through play and day-to-day activities."
Play'n'learn classes are settings where children and parents can learn what is considered to be kindergarten ready through play. In a play setting, stations are set up for children ages 0-5-years-old that are geared to help ready children for school. It is also a place where parents can pick up on the things that they can do at home to help the process along.
Asking a child what color their building block is, helping them hold the crayon the correct way at the craft table, and learning how to share with their peers are only a few things that can be done at home to reinforce what teachers may be looking for once that child enters school.
Following a set routine, and completing simple tasks that are set at home are also ways that a child will be prepared for kindergarten. Being able to take of their socks off and put them in the dirty clothes bin is evidence that that child can follow two and three step instructions.
Community centers and local libraries are the most common places that hold Play'n'learn classes. In addition, Story Times, Circle Times, and Art classes typically available at the local library are excellent environments for children of all ages to get ready for school. Check the local library website calendar to see what's offered.
No matter how scary or worrying getting a child "kindergarten ready," is, know that they are already well on their way by watching and listening to their parents, caregivers and peers. Through every day activity children can become an eager learner who is excited for the endless amount of discovery that awaits them.
