Things You Can Do This Summer to Get Your Child Ready for Kindergarten

The transition into kindergarten is a huge step for most children. It can be as nerve-wracking as it is exciting and we are here to help parents make it easier for their children to prepare for their brand new educational environment. There is plenty of research available that has proven that children entering kindergarten experience a smoother transition if their parents give them two things over the summer months: confidence and practice.

1. Talk – Talk – Talk
Parents who regularly interact with their young kids are actually helping to build their child’s word bank and level of understanding. During your trips to the store, out on walks in the park, and even during daily routines, engage is as much back-and-forth conversation as possible. Not only will your child feel important and that their opinion is valued, but they will also be gaining new vocabulary which will help them do better academically.

2. Read Books About Kindergarten Together
Reading aloud to your child teaches them the basics such as how to hold a book, left-to-right reading sequence, deduction techniques on anticipating what will happen next, and new words not yet mastered. Choosing books about kindergarten can also help your child understand what they can expect in their new school environment.

3.  Have Them Practice Simple Tasks Independently
Your child will need to be able to do following things independently during their time in kindergarten so it’s best to have them practice and master these skills over the summer:

• going to the bathroom (buttoning/unbuttoning pants)
• dressing (changing clothes, opening & closing zippers, tying shoes)
• eating lunch (opening juice boxes & snack packages)
• knowing full name and phone number
• following a series of directions (ex: put away your books and get in line)

4. Do a Dress Rehearsal (or Two)
Parents can help their child get an idea of what a typical day at school would look like by taking a tour of the school, practicing getting up and getting dressed in the morning, and showing them where their bus stop is. Even play dates with classmates can help ease their social anticipation of the new peers they will meet in their kindergarten class.

5. Play and Learn
Children learn exceptionally through play, which is why we encourage a play-to-learn environment. When your child plays, you can weave in learning by introducing new words and concepts. Here are some examples of how to encourage learning with toys you already have around the house:

• “How many cars do you have”
• “Let’s see if we can draw a cat just like your stuffed animal.”
• “Let’s build a house with your blocks.”
• “How many dolls do you have?”
• “How many of your dinosaurs are green?”
• “What other words rhyme with dog? How about frog?”
• “What letter does ball start with?”

6. Practice Facts & Figures
Does your child already count to ten? Can they recognize numbers when written out on a paper or spotted in a book? Work on these academic skills by turning them into a game (and even offer a reward as a treat for all the hard work practicing!) You can also practice basic shapes, colors, and sorting for numeracy readiness.

7. Take a “Field Trip” to Your Favorite Spots
Trips to the zoo, museum, market, beach, or even a sporting event can provide excellent opportunities to learn. Point out new words, items, or events that your child may not be familiar with. Studies show that children with a wealth of background knowledge have better vocabularies and more advanced reading skills.

8. Emphasize Socialization with Peers

Play dates can be invaluable to help children learn how to take turns, share, listen, and cooperate with others. A play date with children around the same age can continue to help your child learn about feelings and what is acceptable behavior when in a social setting like school.

9. Set a Sleep Schedule
Start setting a steady sleep schedule at least two weeks before kindergarten starts. Sync bedtime and wake-up times to the upcoming school schedule and practice getting up and getting dressed in a timely manner. A 5 year old needs approximately 11-12 hours of sleep per day to be ready to learn.

If you have questions on how to prepare your preschooler for the big transition to kindergarten, contact our early education specialists. We can help enroll your child in a summer program or offer advice for VPK registration the year before your child is due to start kindergarten.