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Article: Ready or Not: Kindergarten

Is your child ready for kindergarten? Although each child is unique and develops at his or her own pace, most educators and developmental experts agree upon a certain set of skills as essential tools for further development and achievement in school. Here’s a checklist of the developmental skills children need exposure to and knowledge of before they enter kindergarten.

Learning for Life

Social Development: Life Skills

    Uses words to solve problems or conflicts
    Uses words like please, thank you and excuse me
    Adjusts to new situations
    Attempts new tasks knowing it’s okay to make mistakes
    Shows pride in accomplishments
    Follows a simple direction
    Stays with an activity to completion
    Asks for help
    Interacts appropriately with adults and peers
    Has friends
    Respects the rights, property and feelings of others
    Works cooperatively (listens to others, shares and takes turns)
    Demonstrates increasing self-control
    Participates in clean-up activities
    Takes responsibility for own belongings (lunch, coat, etc.)
    Is able to dress self
    Adheres to a routine and schedule for personal hygiene, eating meals and going to bed
    Uses good hygiene habits and table manners
    Uses appropriate bathroom skills
    Follows simple safety rules

Physical Development: Motor Skills

    Knows his/her own body parts
    Puts puzzles together
    Cuts with scissors
    Holds and uses crayons, markers, pens and pencils correctly
    Builds using blocks
    Tries to tie own shoes
    Bounces, kicks, throws and catches a ball
    Rides a tricycle
    Enjoys outdoor activities, like running, jumping and climbing
    Moves to a beat

Cognitive Development: Reasoning Skills & Understanding Concepts

    Recognizes and names colors
    Groups objects according to size, shape or color
    Groups objects that are the same
    Arranges objects in size order (big to small, or small to big)
    Uses comparison words, like bigger, smaller, heavier, etc.
    Understands concepts of none, some and all; and more than and less than
    Understands concepts of in vs. out; under vs. over; on vs. off; front vs. back, etc.
    Shows an understanding of the passing of time, including concepts of before and after; and today, yesterday and tomorrow

Language & Literacy

Language Development: Listening & Speaking Skills

    Talks in sentences
    Uses sentences that include two or more separate ideas
    Uses descriptive language
    Knows (by heart) and sings or recites nursery rhymes
    Pretends, creates and makes up songs or stories
    Tells or retells stories or songs
    Talks about everyday experiences
    Asks questions about how things work
    Expresses ideas so that others can understand

Reading Basics

    Enjoys getting books as presents
    Has books of his or her own, and has a special place to keep them
    Looks at books or pictures on own
    Pretends to read books by reading the pictures
    Tries to read along with you on favorite parts of the story
    Tries to read in everyday situations (signs, labels, etc.)
    Sees you reading everyday or often

Writing Skills

    Tries to write, scribble or draw
    Has a collection of paper, pencils and crayons
    Likes to receives notes
    Asks you to write words or notes to others
    Uses chalk or magnetic letters
    Attempts to write own name and recognizes own name in print

Mathematics

    Compares the size of groups of objects
    Identifies and draws a square, circle and triangle
    Correctly counts four to ten objects

 

 

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