five summer activities that will help your child prepare for kindergarten this fall
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FIVE SUMMER ACTIVITIES THAT WILL HELP YOUR CHILD PREPARE FOR KINDERGARTEN THIS FALL
The first day your child goes to kindergarten is a much anticipated (and
sometimes emotional) milestone. Whether your child is enthusiastic or apprehensive about going, it is best to prepare him or her during the summer for the upcoming kindergarten life. These five activities will help your child learn the skills needed to adjust comfortably to school.
First, begin each morning by reviewing the calendar. You don’t need a
fancy classroom type. Buy a themed wall calendar or make your own with your child. Say the current day, month, date, and year and point out the previous and following days. Use fun stickers to mark holidays and special dates and to count down the days until school starts.
Second, practice handwriting and spelling using summertime activities instead of a pencil and paper. Have your child write words on the sidewalk with chalk, a paintbrush and water, or shaving cream. Show your child how to trace letters in the wet sand at the beach with a stick. Find smooth rocks in the yard, let your future kindergartner paint letters on them, and spell out words.
Third, teach phonics through a scavenger hunt. Place the letter-painted rocks
in a bucket and have your child pick one out to determine the letter sound you two will search for. Then look around the neighborhood for things that start with that letter. Pick a new letter each day until you’ve gone through the whole alphabet. Remember to include the digraphs ch, sh, and th.
Fourth, introduce simple math and science concepts while playing outdoors.
Identify numbers on houses and road signs. Count how many times your child can jump rope. Sort objects you find outside by color, shape, or size, and point out the groups with the most and fewest items. Look at bugs and plants underneath a magnifying glass and discuss what you see. Describe the daily weather conditions. Nature is an amazing and free classroom!
Finally, don’t forget practical and social skills your new kindergartner will need to use without your help. Teach your child how to tie shoelaces, use buttons and zippers, and open and close food containers. Practice good manners such as waiting in line and saying excuse meto get someone’s attention. Help each other clean up messes to encourage teamwork and responsibility.
Summer will be over before you know it and soon you’ll be
waving goodbye to your little kindergartner. By doing the above activities with your child the months before, you can have the confidence that he or she will be ready for and excel in school. To learn more about a toddler preschool in Cary, visit this website www.carypreschool.com/toddlers