Getting Your Child Ready for Kindergarten

Connecticut State Department of Education/Bureau of Early Childhood Education and Social Services

Families are their children's first teachers. Parents can help their children enter kindergarten feeling happy, confident and safe. Share what you see and ask your child questions. Note what you child finds interesting and then join him or her in his or her interests. Children love to explore new places, ideas and things. Spending time with your child is more valuable than any toy. Enjoy this time with your child; it passes by quickly. The suggestions below can help your child develop key thinking and learning skills for kindergarten.

USE MATHEMATICS USE MATHEMATICS

Before your child enters school, he or she should be able to: To help your child be ready for Kindergarten, you can:

Recognize and count up to ten items. Turn meal times into counting fun by having your child count objects as he or she helps set the table. Count objects whenever you are driving or walking to school or on errands. Check out the local library for counting books -- children love to read and re-read these books.

Recognize the number symbols 1-10. Play "I SPY" with numbers as you travel; find numbers in books; count, measure and estimate while making dinner. Look for number symbols in magazines, cut out and glue on paper all the 2s, 3s, etc. Put magnetic numbers on the refrigerator for your child to use.

Describe and talk about objects that have different sizes, colors, shapes and patterns. Use a favorite story/picture book -- describe objects according to color, shape and size. Play games with dancing and moving to a patter: hop, wiggle, spin; hop, wiggle, spin. Play guessing games: "Can you find something that is red and round or looks like a triangle?" Color and draw patterns together.

Sort items by "same" and "different". Play games where your child has to find the matching sock, shoe and mitten. Set the table by matching every plate with a napkin, cup and fork. Look for picture games, playing cards and dominoes for finding matches.

Use the words "near," "far," "top," "bottom," "under," "first," "second," "last." Use your morning routine to practice "First we get up, second we wash our face." Use the tune of a familiar song to create a movement song: "Put your hands on top of your head; stand on top of the box; crawl under the table; Use these words in directions: "Put your sneakers under the bed; put the teddy bear on top of the pillow."

Sort objects from smallest to largest, shortest to tallest and lightest to heaviest. Gather a variety of objects from your child's toy box and line them up from largest to smallest. Organize boxes of cereal, rice and pasta from tallest to shortest. Put a variety of objects in a bag; sort them from heaviest to lightest.

Last updated: May 22, 2003

USE MATHEMATICS	USE MATHEMATICS
Before your child enters school, he or she should be able to:	To help your child be ready for Kindergarten, you can:
Recognize and count up to ten items.	Turn meal times into counting fun by having your child count objects as he or she helps set the table. Count objects whenever you are driving or walking to school or on errands. Check out the local library for counting books -- children love to read and re-read these books.
Recognize the number symbols 1-10.	Play "I SPY" with numbers as you travel; find numbers in books; count, measure and estimate while making dinner. Look for number symbols in magazines, cut out and glue on paper all the 2s, 3s, etc. Put magnetic numbers on the refrigerator for your child to use.
Describe and talk about objects that have different sizes, colors, shapes and patterns.	Use a favorite story/picture book -- describe objects according to color, shape and size. Play games with dancing and moving to a patter: hop, wiggle, spin; hop, wiggle, spin. Play guessing games: "Can you find something that is red and round or looks like a triangle?" Color and draw patterns together.
Sort items by "same" and "different".	Play games where your child has to find the matching sock, shoe and mitten. Set the table by matching every plate with a napkin, cup and fork. Look for picture games, playing cards and dominoes for finding matches.
Use the words "near," "far," "top," "bottom," "under," "first," "second," "last."	Use your morning routine to practice "First we get up, second we wash our face." Use the tune of a familiar song to create a movement song: "Put your hands on top of your head; stand on top of the box; crawl under the table; Use these words in directions: "Put your sneakers under the bed; put the teddy bear on top of the pillow."
Sort objects from smallest to largest, shortest to tallest and lightest to heaviest.	Gather a variety of objects from your child's toy box and line them up from largest to smallest. Organize boxes of cereal, rice and pasta from tallest to shortest. Put a variety of objects in a bag; sort them from heaviest to lightest.