Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten

Written by All Stars Montessori

On February 11, 2019

As we kick-off the month of February, Kindergarten enrollment is underway! If your child will be 5 years old before September 1st, you have probably already visited the school they will be attending and have started the registration process. And even if your child will not be entering Kindergarten this fall, it is time to start thinking about what you can do to be sure they’re ready when the time comes.

Heading off to Kindergarten marks a huge milestone in a child’s life. They will be officially entering the formal education system and interacting with all sorts of new people and having all sorts of new experiences. As parents and caregivers, how can you ensure that they have the tools they need to be confident and successful in this new adventure?

There are many things to consider in order to prepare your child for Kindergarten. When they walk into class on that first day of school, they will do so along with about twenty other children that come from a variety of different backgrounds and skill sets. Kindergarten teachers understand this and they are less concerned with the students’ reading and math skills and more concerned with their social skills. A child that can listen and follow directions will be able to participate in class with less need for redirection and correction. And a child that is used to interacting with other children will be able to positively interact with their new classmates and that will give them the confidence to make new friends.

Beyond socialization skills, it is also helpful if your child can demonstrate fine motor skills and a basic understanding of their colors, shapes, letters, and numbers. At the beginning of the year, Kindergarten teachers will be presenting these basic skills to all of the children in order to gain an understanding of where each child is individually. Being familiar with these skills will help your child to feel some level of success in Kindergarten right of the bat.

The teachers at All Stars Montessori understand the importance of preparing children for Kindergarten. The regular day-to-day activities that they practice during “work time” beginning in the toddler classroom and progressing through Preschool will help them develop the skills they will need when they enter Kindergarten. They will also be gaining confidence as they learn and practice important social and self-help skills.

Most school districts require that your child participates in an Early Childhood Screening before they register for Kindergarten. These screenings are typically conducted when your child is between the ages of 3 1/2 and 4 years old. They provide an opportunity for early education professionals to identify areas where your child may be struggling so that they can provide early intervention services to get them on track as they near Kindergarten. All Stars Montessori has a history of working closely with Early Childhood professionals in District 196 and the partnership they’ve developed has helped many children solidify important skills before they head off to Kindergarten.

There are many ways to provide opportunities for your child to be prepared for Kindergarten both at home and in a preschool environment. If your child will be entering Kindergarten within the next couple of years, you should begin to provide some of those opportunities now. Check with your local school district to see if there are early education programs available. Get referrals from your friends and neighbors for preschools in your area.

And if you live in the Apple Valley, MN area, be sure to check out All Stars Montessori.  They are an individually owned Montessori child care center that nurtures, teaches and empowers children beginning as infants all the way through preschool to ensure that they will be ready to enter Kindergarten with confidence!

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