The 6 most helpful academic skills you can introduce your child to before they start kindergarten.
So the time has come where you are preparing to send your child off to kindergarten. Exciting, nerve wracking, emotional…the list of possible ways you and your child might be feeling go on. The best way to tackle some of these emotions is to focus on a few ways to best prepare your child for when they walk into that classroom and then start practicing them! Your child’s teacher is of course going to be teaching your child all of the academics and many other skills that kindergarteners will need to learn. However, if you’re looking to give your child a bit of a head start, here are 6 academic skills to help prepare your child for kindergarten!
Academic Skills for Kindergarten Readiness
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Holding a Pencil Correctly
One of the most important skills your child will need is learning how to hold a pencil, or any writing utensil, correctly. This may seem simple, but mastering this skill can significantly impact their writing development. There are a few fun tricks that might help your little one grasp this skill. One of these is the "alligator trick." Have your child imagine their thumb and pointer finger are an alligator's mouth, ready to "chomp" down on the pencil. Another is to let the pencil "fall" and have their thumb and pointer finger quickly save it. Practice makes perfect, so give them plenty of opportunities to draw and write!
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Safe Scissor and Glue Use
To say your child will be making making crafts in kindergarten is an understatement. Knowing how to hold and use (child safe) scissors and glue correctly can really boost their confidence and independence and allow them to focus their creativity into their craft rather than how to use the materials. There are a ton of fun ways you can practice at home such as cutting out shapes and gluing them onto paper, or cutting items from magazines and making a collage. Another benefit of practicing this skill is its great for improving fine motor skills!
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Introduce Letters and Letter Sounds
Early literacy in kindergarten begins with recognizing letters and understanding their sounds. This alone is one of the absolute most important skills to prepare your child for kindergarten. Here are some fun ways you can practice this skill at home: alphabet songs and rhymes, alphabet flashcards (make sure to focus on the letter sound and not just the letter name), alphabet books, letter hunts, and alphabet crafts. The key to this is just practice and repetition!
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Introduce Numbers
Numeracy skills are just as important as literacy skills when preparing for kindergarten. Start by introducing numbers slowly, focusing on 1 through 5 initially. Make it fun and use objects your kiddo is interested in to count, such as toys or snacks (associating a physical object with each number they count, and seeing the items representing the numbers is super important). You can also use counting games, number puzzles, number cards, and educational videos. As they become more comfortable, gradually introduce higher numbers.
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Know Their Personal Information
It's super important for your child to know basic personal information like their full name, their caregivers' real names, and a general idea of where they live. This knowledge is not only crucial for safety but also helps build their confidence and sense of identity. Knowing these items is extra important if your child will be riding the bus. You can practice this information regularly through fun quizzes or incorporating it into songs and stories.
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Recognize and Write Their Name
One of the proudest moments for any child is recognizing and writing their name. Start with name recognition by labeling their belongings and encouraging them to point out their name. (A great way to begin this is having them help put labels on their school belongings while preparing for the school year!) Then, move on to writing. You can write their name in large, clear letters and have them trace over it with a pencil or crayon. There are so many fun ways you can practice name writing such as writing it in shaving cream, using chalk outside, or molding dough into letters to create their name. Gradually, they’ll be able to write their name independently.
Your Turn!
As you prepare your little one for this big step with kindergarten readiness, remember to enjoy this time together and celebrate each milestone. We can’t wait to see the creative ways you’re helping your child get ready for kindergarten. Happy learning!
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