Kindergarten Readiness

Many parents and teachers do not start thinking about preparing for the transition to kindergarten until a month or two before it begins. They may not be aware that a successful transition to kindergarten is a process that begins the year before. Whether your child is in preschool, daycare or at home, the transition from early education programs to kindergarten can be a stressful time for both families and educators. It is important to have tools and resources that can inform, practice, and guide children and families through the process gradually. The year before kindergarten is the time to learn important skills, such as tracing the shapes of letters and numbers on paper, following simple instructions, recognizing the title of a book, and matching rhyming sounds. All of these skills are important for future school success because they form a foundation of strong reading and writing skills necessary for future work with letters and sounds in kindergarten. Getting ready for kindergarten involves more than just learning the ABC's. Along with juggling learning letters, sounds, numbers, and rhymes, new social experiences like taking turns and going to the bathroom independently need to be considered as well. By starting early and learning new skills along the way, your child will have a strong start to the exciting year of learning that lies ahead.