It’s kindergarten registration and readiness time in Fredericksburg! If your child turns 5 by September 30, it’s time to sign up for kindergarten. Did you know that 1 in 7 children in our community arrive in kindergarten without the basic skills to succeed? Smart Beginnings wants your little one to have all the skills they need to do their very best! To help, they’ve shared with us ten kindergarten readiness skills to work on now.
Ready Freddy’s Top Ten Ways To Get Ready For Kindergarten
1. Talk about the colors, shapes and numbers you see each day with your child. Cut large shapes out of colored construction paper. Ask your child to “jump on the square” or “walk to the red circle.” Using a basket of small toys, rocks, buttons, etc., count them with your child. Sort them based on size and color.
2. Practice writing your child’s first and last name with them. Use paint, pudding, sand, etc. and have your child practice writing their name. Using paper, let them trace their name, written properly with a capital followed by lower case letters.
3. Read a book with your child EVERY DAY! Discuss it with them afterwards and see how much of the plot they can recall.
4. Encourage them to help out every day. This helps build confidence, life skills, and fine motor skills.
5. Sing songs and rhymes. Have them listen for words that sound the same. Rhyming and singing can help build vocabulary and develop sound discrimination, which is an important part of early literacy.
6. Play and exercise every day! It contributes to the physical, social and emotional health of your little one and it’s fun!
7. Do arts and crafts projects – use scissors. Cutting paper (while supervised), coloring, and even gluing pom-poms help develop small motor skills.
8. Work on following directions. Yes this can be a little frustrating, but learning to follow directions now will help tremendously when they’re in a classroom setting.
9. Answer questions your child asks. Encourage their curiosity and love of learning!
10. Help them take turns, share, and say “Thank You.” Social skills are very important to kindergarten readiness.
For more information on kindergarten readiness (including free events!), kindergarten enrollment, and Smart Beginnings, check out www.smartbeginningsra.org/
Sponsored by, Smart Beginnings
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