Before a child goes off to Kindergarten, there is much you, as a parent, can do to help prepare your child for a good start. Kids don’t learn all the skills and fine motor movements needed on their own. It takes practice with a patient and encouraging parent to learn even basic skills like coloring and cutting. These may seem like minor things, but if a child already has mastered the list below, he/she will be ahead whens starting Kindergarten. There is so much to take in when starting school, learning the basic rules of a classroom and the etiquette that goes along with getting along. Having taught your child some of the basics will go a long way to getting off on the right foot.
Basic Skills to Be Learned for Kindergarten
- Recognizing both captial and lowercase letters in the alphabet
- Recognizing and drawing four basic shapes (circle,square,triangle, rectangle)
- Coloring and Cutting
- Recognizing and writing first name
- Recognizing and counting out loud from 0-10
- Sharing and Taking Turns
- Listening and following directions
- Tying shoelaces
- Buttoning and zipping clothing
Obviously, all children don’t know all of these concepts and skills when starting school, but the more they can master beforehand the better start they will have to their education.