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PINAL COUNTY – School is letting out and many families have summer pool parties and vacations on the mind. For parents and caregivers of children under 5 years old, summer is also a great opportunity to help kids going into kindergarten prepare for success!
Today’s schools expect 5-year-olds to arrive with basic academic and social skills so they are prepared on day one to start learning to read, write and do basic math.
Casa Grande’s Mesquite Elementary School kindergarten teacher Alice Baker, who just finished her 36th year of teaching, is looking for simple ways of preparedness.
“Can they sit for 10 to 15 minutes at a time?” she asked. “This tells me whether they’ll be able to sit through a story or lesson. How good are they at following simple directions? Have they used a pencil or crayons? If they can do those things, it’s easy to start beginning to learn.”
Baker’s answers echo a survey of 4,500 kindergarten teachers were asked what skills a child should have to help ease his or her transition to school, the answers included:
• Pretends to read. Understands that words are read from left to right. Looks at pictures and tells a story.
• Recognizes own name and tries to write it.
• Counts to 10 and can count objects.
• Pays attention and follows simple directions.
• Can repeat sequences of numbers, sounds and parts of stories.
• Controls a pencil and crayon well. Cuts shapes and pastes them on paper.
• Is toilet trained. Dresses self. Brushes own teeth.
• Recognizes authority. Shares with others. Works independently.
“Parents are very important because a child’s education starts at home,” Baker said. “It’s very noticeable when families spend a lot of times with their children. The child sees that learning is important to their mom and dad and think, ‘They want me to do well.’”
First Things First offers tips to families and caregivers to help prepare their child for kindergarten.
Reading– Read with your child at least 20 minutes per day. Try books that repeat words about familiar objects; involve activities like counting, identifying colors, objects or letters; or, are about things your child likes. Ask questions about the story like, “What do you think happens next?”
Talking– Talk and sing with your child everywhere – at home, in the car, at the store. Make up stories or songs about your outings.
Routines– Help your child get used to the structure of the school day by establishing regular routines for waking up and dressing, meal times, and bath and bed times. Do a test-run of the big day by practicing all the activities that will happen at school. This will help overcome any fears. Include waking up at the scheduled time, walk to the bus stop and talk about where to sit. If you drive, talk about landmarks on the way. Pack a lunch and practice opening things together.
Early writing– Writing begins with scribbling. Give your child safe writing tools to play with, like crayons, chalk or markers and blank paper. Ask your child to tell you about their drawings. Use salt or coffee grounds as a tactile way to practice writing alphabet letters.
Talk change– Start talking to your child about the change that is coming when they start school. Be positive, and give your child the opportunity to ask questions or express fears. Read books with your child about starting kindergarten.
For more tips to prepare kids over the summer for their first day of school and success beyond, First Things First offers resources at azftf.gov in the Parent Section under Early Education.
If you don’t have kindergarteners this year, it’s never too early to start helping kids prepare. Children who have positive experiences from birth to 5 are more likely to be prepared when they start kindergarten and do well in school. By turning everyday moments into learning moments, we can help our children develop the skills and the love of learning that will help them succeed in school and in life!
About First Things First – First Things First is a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early education and health programs to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten. Decisions about how those funds are spent are made by local councils staffed by community volunteers. To learn more, visit azftf.gov.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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