Kindergarten Screening is Coming!

Spring is coming, and so is Kindergarten screening. It’s still a few months away. If you want to do a little prepping, here are five ideas for you and your child. They came from the UK. I modified them to fit American parents and kids.



​           Link: The 5 Skills You Should Actually Teach Your Child Before They Start School (msn.com)
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​                                                    ​#1. Talking: In the US, I’d expand this into the language arts.
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- Think speaking. Talk to your kids, ask them questions, sing and do nursery rhymes.

- Think listening. Can your kids listen to a story or follow directions? Maybe with one step or two? Maybe more! (2 step example – jump twice, then stop.)

- Think reading. Read a book with your kids. Picture or Board book, it doesn’t matter. Let your kids read to you. It doesn’t have to match the real text. That’s how littles start reading – by retelling a favorite story. You can do the same thing with television. Watch, then talk about it. You’re still using all of those great skills.

- Think writing. It can be as simple as drawing a picture or writing their name. That’s how littles start. They’ll let you know if/when they’re ready for more.

PS – Save a drawing from time to time, maybe once a month. They’ll show how your child’s fine motor skills are growing and developing.

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                  #2. Independence: This is the same set of skills whether you live in the UK or the US.
                                      The more independent your child is, the more successful they’ll be.
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​- Think separating. Can you leave your child and know they’ll be fine? During screening another educator will take your child to assess their strengths and weaknesses. They can’t get an accurate picture if you’re there. The school will set up classrooms that fit your child and their classmates based on that screening.

-  Think bathroom skills. Kids are expected to go by themselves. They need to wipe, wash, and dry their hands. Knowing how to get a paper towel is helpful. I remember watching Kindergarten teachers and students that first week. There’s a lot of life skills being learned and practiced.

- Think lunch. Can your child eat by themselves? Open packages of ketchup or use a spork to spread butter. An adult’s around to help, but the more your child can do, the better. That first week of school your child will learn to carry their tray to the table. Afterwards they’ll drop off trash or things to wash. Every day that first week I gave thanks for kindergarten teachers. By the third week, those kids looked like pros!

- Think clothing. Can your child put on a coat? Zip or button it? Can they tie their shoes, or pack their bookbag to go home? Teaching them how to get dressed is a good thing! So is independence.


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                                                #3. Numbers: It’s more than 2 + 2, even in kindergarten.
                      It’s not algebra or geometry, but the foundations for math begin in kindergarten.
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​- Think number sense. Can your child count to 10? To 20? If that’s simple, keep going. Maybe your kiddo can make it to 100!

Do they know that 2 cookies are less than 4? Could they figure out if you have 4 cookies and give 2 away, how many are left? You could try this at your kitchen table or at the store. Any time you use math, let your child use it with you.

- Think geometry with shapes. Can your child recognize triangles, circles, and other 2D shapes? Can they recognize 3D ones like spheres, cylinders, and cones? When you find those shapes in real life, talk to your child.

- Think patterns, basic AB ones. You can build from there. You might start with circle, square, circle. Then ask what comes next. If your little doesn’t know, it’s an opportunity to learn something new. If you see patterns around the house, around the store, ask your child to look for them.

- Think measurement. Start with more/less, heavier/lighter, and go from there. Talk about units at the grocery store – pounds, gallons, etc. Let them use a scale, like the one in the bathroom. The UK post said to bake with your child and let them do the measuring. If there’s a spill, they can learn to clean it up too 😊


                                                 #4. Concentration: It’s more than focusing and finishing a task.
         It’s also about changing gears.  It’s about learning how to do things when your teacher tells you.
                                                                          

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- Think listening to directions, then following them. Play a game with your child, or ask them to help you. They’re using those same skills.

- Think movement. You can’t just get up and move around. You listen to your teacher. Try a game like Simon Says with your kiddo.

- Think bathroom. You listen to your teacher too. Think of car rides. Your child has used this skill.

- Think stopping and starting when your teacher tells you to. Sometimes you don’t get to finish what you’re doing. Watch how your child handles this at home and help them shift those gears.

- Think about the other kids in the class who are doing activities too. If your child is in preschool or any other kind of class, take a look at how they’re handling those interactions.
-  The original post suggested things like sticker books, puzzles, activity books, and coloring. Don’t forget group activities like story hour for your child.

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                                                                    ​​ #5. Play: This is the heart of childhood.
                           Kids learn by playing – from finding their fingers and toes to stacking blocks.
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- Think open-ended play where your child directs the action, with real things or with their imagination.
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- Think materials – like paper towel tubes, clay, and boxes. Or toys like blocks, costumes, and balls. The opportunities are endless, and so is the fun. 

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