7 Essential Kindergarten Readiness Skills To Teach Your Child

Kindergarten Readiness skills are essential for children starting nursery school. It helps them achieve significant developmental milestones. For many kids, this will be the first time they will spend time in a classroom. It is a place where they will learn new skills and socialize with their peers. The transition to kindergarten can be filled with excitement and apprehension. As your little ones begin learning to read, write, and do simple math it can be exciting..

Basic Kindergarten Readiness Skills

The thought of sending your child to kindergarten may be nerve-wracking. Not just for you but also for your little one, but there is no need to worry. You can set your child on the path to success in kindergarten by teaching them a few critical kindergarten readiness skills.

1. Recognizing their name

Reading and recognizing their name is a skill you can teach young ones as soon as they learn their names. You can begin by writing it on paper and then asking them to tell you what it says. As kids age, you can show them other words starting with the same letter as their names. For example, a child named Sam could be asked to find all the “S” words in a list of words. Children at this age need to know how to recognize their names in print before entering kindergarten.

2. Pre-writing skills

These skills include holding a pencil correctly and knowing that words are written from left to right. Having your child practice some pre-writing activities at home is helpful. For example, drawing lines on a piece of paper and coloring in the spaces between them. If you introduce these kindergarten readiness skills to kids early, they will come more naturally when they start learning how to write in kindergarten.

3. Being able to express their needs and wants

Many kids start asking for things at a young age. Before starting school, your little ones must be able to tell someone what they want. They could either ask verbally or by pointing. Teaching little ones how to express themselves verbally and non-verbally before entering kindergarten will ensure that they can communicate clearly and effectively with classmates and teachers.

4. Knowing shapes and colors

Children don’t need to be experts on every single shape and color before kindergarten. However, it is helpful to become somewhat familiar with a few basics. You can play games that incorporate identifying different shapes and colors each day. It will help ensure that kids can recognize them when they start school.

5. Counting and identifying the numbers one through ten

Children need to be familiar with the numbers one through ten before kindergarten. Find opportunities at home to expose your little one to numbers and counting. It will help kids learn how to recognize numbers in their written form in addition to quantities. You can point to a number and ask your little one what comes next. For example, say, “What comes after four?” These exercises help your child practice counting and identifying numbers before kindergarten.

6. Naming the letters of the alphabet

Becoming familiar with the alphabet is a vital kindergarten readiness skill for kids starting nursery school. When kids begin learning how to start sounding out words using letter sounds, this will significantly enhance their learning experience.

There are plenty of alphabet-related activities you can do with your little one. For example, have children point out letters on a cereal box during breakfast, or play a variety of alphabet games. You can even have youngsters start writing their names on paper and ask them to name all the letters in their names. The more exposure children have to identifying different letter names and sounds, the better equipped they will be for the beginning of kindergarten.

7. Fine motor skills

The development of fine motor skills starts as babies learn to grasp objects in their environment. If children have trouble holding and manipulating small objects, now is an excellent time to start working on this kindergarten readiness skill. You can ask them to dangle small toys at eye level or put pegs on a board. Have babies or toddlers play with small objects (such as building blocks) and see if they can fit specific shapes inside others. The more kids can practice using their fine motor skills; the better equipped they will be for the demands of kindergarten.

Kindergarten Readiness Skills Checklist

Social and Emotional Development

• Able to follow simple instructions
• Can communicate needs and wants effectively
• Has good manners and can share with others
• Can play and work well with others
• Has some self-control and can manage emotions

Language and Literacy

• Able to recognize and write their name
• Identifies and names colors, shapes, and letters
• Holds a pencil, crayon, or marker correctly
• Retells a simple story or sequence of events
• Listens and responds to stories or questions

Math Skills

• Can count to 20 or higher
• Identifies and names numbers up to 10 or higher
• Sorts and classifies objects by color, size, and shape
• Understands and uses basic math concepts such as more/less, big/small, and same/different
• Completes simple patterns and puzzles

Physical Development

• Can run jump, hop, and skip with ease
• Uses scissors to cut the paper along a straight line
• Able to dress and undress independently
• Holds a pencil, crayon, or marker correctly
• Uses fine motor skills to complete tasks such as stringing beads or building with blocks

General Knowledge

• Identifies basic shapes, colors, and letters
• Recognizes basic household and community items such as a phone or stop sign
• Has some knowledge of the world around them, such as animals, plants, and weather
• Understands basic safety rules such as “stop, look, and listen” when crossing the street

Conclusion

It’s never too early to help kids prepare to transition to the next step of their academic journey. Follow these steps so you can help to equip kids with the essential kindergarten readiness skills they need for a great start to kindergarten!

Kindergarten is an exciting time. With the help of fun, interactive activities and age-appropriate lessons here at Children’s Corner, our teachers provide a variety of opportunities to enrich the skills children need as they approach their first day of school. Visit our website to learn more about kindergarten readiness skills!