8 ways to get your child ready for Kindergarten
By Rachel Angrisani
Director of Early & Elementary Learning
June 9, 2023
Preparing your preschooler for the exciting adventure of kindergarten doesn't have to be a daunting task. With a sprinkle of creativity and a dash of playfulness, you can help your child develop the necessary skills while fostering a love for learning!
At TeachPlayLearn, we take a developmental approach to kindergarten readiness, integrating key developmental domains that create a strong foundation for learning: Social-Emotional, Speech & Language, Gross & Fine Motor, Cognitive, and Executive Functioning. These activities are meant to be recommendations as a reference of skills. The goal isn't to master every skill, rather to expose your child to new experiences, build their confidence, and equip them with an "I can" attitude that will help them navigate new learning environments and social situations with ease.
Here are some of our favorite ways to harness these skills at home for kindergarten readiness before the fall:
Transitions | Music Clean Up
Work on transitions like playing music when cleaning up toys before the next activity. Transitioning from one activity to another can sometimes be a challenge for preschoolers. To make it more enjoyable, incorporate music! Create a playlist of their favorite tunes and play it when it's time to clean up toys or move on to the next activity. Watch as your child grooves to the beat and transitions with a smile.
2. Language & Communication | Follow Directions
This is a great time to create more opportunities for language and communication. Ask your child to give you the steps to make their favorite snack, one step at a time. Make it a silly adventure by strictly following their directions, even if it means using a toy car to spread peanut butter! This activity not only helps develop their language and sequencing skills but also encourages creativity and imagination.
For some fun entertainment, check out the older version of this activity when a child writes down the step by step directions for his dad to make a sandwich. 👉
3. Early Literacy | Story Retelling
After enjoying a read-aloud session together, close the book and let your child retell the story in their own words. Encourage them to recall the characters, main events, and key details. This activity strengthens their comprehension skills, enhances vocabulary, and boosts their confidence in expressing themselves. For additional ideas and information about read alouds, check out our Read Aloud Blog Post.
4. Fine Motor Skills | Tripod Grasp with Rock Crayons
Fine motor skills play a crucial role in a child's ability to write and manipulate objects. Introduce rock crayons, which are specially designed to encourage a tripod grasp (holding a pencil with thumb, index, and middle fingers). Let your child explore the vibrant colors and engage in coloring activities. This will develop their hand-eye coordination and strengthen the muscles needed for writing.
5. Routines & Schedule | Visual Schedule
Create a visual schedule for the day using a poster, whiteboard, or even a simple piece of paper. Sit down with your child and discuss the activities they will engage in throughout the day, emphasizing the order in which they should be completed. Refer to the schedule regularly to provide a sense of structure and organization. Your child will learn about time management, sequencing, and responsibility while enjoying a sense of accomplishment as they check off completed tasks.
6. Pattern Recognition | Snack Time
Turn snack time into a delightful learning experience by incorporating different colored fruits like berries, strawberries, and grapes. Help your child line up the fruits in a row to create patterns together. Explore alternating colors, repeating patterns, or even making symmetrical designs. This activity not only introduces early math concepts but also encourages creativity and healthy snacking habits.
7. Gross Motor Skills | Zoo Animals
Bring the zoo to your living room! Encourage your child to act out the movements of various zoo animals, from slithering like a snake to hopping like a kangaroo. Take it a step further by pairing the movements with corresponding animal sounds. This activity promotes gross motor skills, imaginative play, and a lot of giggles.
8. Fine Motor Skills | Using Scissors
Encourage creativity and cooperation by engaging in a collaborative design activity. Each of you can draw a unique design using straight lines on a piece of paper. Once completed, switch papers and cut out each other's designs. Display the final creations and celebrate the joy of teamwork and shared accomplishments.
Preparing your preschooler for kindergarten can be an enjoyable and rewarding journey. By incorporating these fun and engaging activities into your daily routine, you'll not only enhance their cognitive, fine motor, and social-emotional skills but also foster a love for learning. Embrace the playfulness, watch your child's confidence bloom, and get ready to cheer them on as they embark on their kindergarten adventure.