As a parent it is smart to worry about what your child should be able to do and what they should know before kindergarten. You do not want your child to start off behind, so making sure they are kindergarten ready is key. The following are some of the skills a child to should have to be kindergarten ready:
Letters: Your child does not need to be able to read when they start kindergarten, but they should have the beginning steps, and the foundation for reading, letters, sounds, and alphabets. Your child should know how to-
· Identify the sound of some letters· Identify most of the alphabet letters by sight
· Know there are lower and upper case letters that are the same letter
· Recognize and identify rhyming sounds
· Recognize common sight words like “he”
Numbers: Again, a child does not need to be a math genius, but they should know the basic concept of numbers and counting. He is what they should know-
· Identify less and more
· Count to ten
· Sort items into groups by numbers
Self care: In order for a child to be go to kindergarten, they have to have mastered a certain level of self care as they will be gone from their parent, etc. Your child should be able to do the following:
· Manage bathroom needs, every step of it.
· Button shirts, pants, coats, and zip up zippers
· Be able to be away from parents without too much anxiety or problems.
Maturity: Kindergarten readiness involves having the maturity to do certain things. If your child is not emotionally and mentally ready for kindergarten, it might be good to put it off some. Here is what they should be able to do:
· Be able to speak understandably
· Begin to control themselves emotionally
· Able to go short periods focusing
· Listen to stories without interrupting
· Be able to share with others
· Ability to follow rules
· Know and understand the general times of day
· Recognize authority
· Pay attention to things for short periods of time
· Understand causes and effect
· Talk in complete sentences of five to six words
Coordination and motor skills: When a child enters kindergarten, they should be able to do certain things. There are motor skills and coordination that they should have to be ready for the physical tasks they will need to do in kindergarten. These include being able to:
· Cut with scissors
· Trace basic shapes
· Bounce a ball
Kindergarten readiness is an important thing to focus on. It is a good idea to try and work with them so that they are emotionally, physically, and academically ready for school. If you take the time to make sure they are kindergarten ready, they will have far more success their first year of school, and feel more confident.