By BlueWaterParent.com Parenting Blogger Alyssa Dock. Views represented are for informational purposes and are the personal views of the writer.
Over the years I have had the privilege to teach students of all ages, from preschool to second grade. I spent two years teaching Kindergarten and there was always so much talk about what it means to be ready for Kindergarten. Every teacher and school may have a slightly different idea of what that means, but here is my opinion.
When it comes to school, there is SO much that is expected out of students at such a young age nowadays. I personally believe that academics is not the most important part of Kindergarten. I have had students come into my classroom from a variety of backgrounds: students who came from preschool and could already write their names and all their letters and numbers, students who were already reading, and students who had never even held a pencil before. At the end of the day, all of these students are together in the same classroom with the same teacher and held to the same expectations. The academics will come in their own time. Below is a list of what I believe to be the most important things to work with your child on before school starts this year.
Most Important Things
Potty training. I know this seems like a total “duh” but there were countless times that students would call from the bathroom needing some form of assistance. Help your child learn to wipe properly at home. Practice bathroom etiquette in public restrooms. Talk with your child about what they should do if they have an accident. Pack a change of clothes and help your child practice changing into those clothes independently. And most importantly- practice good hand-washing techniques!
Conflict management. When you put 20-30 five and six-year-olds together in a room: arguments are bound to arise. So much time is spent during the day as a teacher managing conflict resolution among students. Work with your child at home on skills such as sharing, waiting your turn, and expressing frustration in an age-appropriate way. These skills are truly the foundation of your child’s schooling experience, and the more practice-the better!
Fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are imperative to a students academic success. Working on activities such as playdough, painting, stringing beads, and chalk all allow children to build the necessary muscles to form a proper grip, and therefore, write. Practice holding crayons, pencils, etc, using the proper grip so that your child is used to it by the time school begins.
A positive attitude towards learning. This is, in my opinion, the most important skill a child can have when they enter the classroom. A student who is eager to learn is a student who will thrive in school. At home, you can set an example of what that means to your child. Ask questions, show curiosity, and encourage those traits in your child as well.
Kindergarten is a BIG DEAL!
Sending a child off to school for the first time is a wonderfully memorable time. There are tears, excitement, nerves, and anxiety. Take a deep breath, and know that your baby is in good hands.
Story by Alyssa Dock for BlueWaterParent.com
