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Kindergarten skills

I don't trust her's picture

Submitted by I don't trust her on Tue, 08/07/2018 - 5:04pm

I know I’ve seen lists before but does anyone know what a typical child should know going into Kindergarten.

We’ve worked with both the children over the summer to help them keep up their skills. Nothing intense, I bought the summer bridge worksheets and before they could do anything with the TV they had to do one page.

My boyfriend’s oldest did ok. Her biggest issue was careless mistakes. Like when she had addition and subtraction problems she would ignore it and do addition for all the problems.

The little one seems to know his letters, numbers, colors, and shapes. I have no clue how to help him with basic reading though so that I’m completely lost. He was working on writing and following directions. I know he’ll be ok so this is more of a curiosity thing.

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I don't trust her's picture

Submitted by I don't trust her on Wed, 08/08/2018 - 8:17am

Thank you. Looks like we’re pretty good. There are a few areas that he’s weaker in but for the most part he’s got all this and in some places he’s a little ahead. I know that they’ll help him catch up in the areas he needs but I just wanted to get an idea of how he is doing.

notarelative's picture

Submitted by notarelative on Wed, 08/08/2018 - 7:32am

My advice would be to take a step back. Yes, you want the kids to have skills, but don't obsess about it. Best thing for preschoolers ( in my opinion):

Less tv. And when they watch kid appropriate shows. 

Play age appropriate board games. You will get sick of playing Candyland, but keep playing. Those taking turn skills, the not always winning... are important for self regulation at school.

Talk to them. Talk about everything. Use lots of adjectives and adverbs to increase their vocabulary. Work on conversational skills. 

Read to them. Read every day. Pick a  reading time and do it every day. Use the library for a variety of books. For books to keep a home try resale shops. You may dread reading the favorite book night after night, but it is good for your kid's prereading skills.

Encourage fantasy play. Dress up costumes are not just for Halloween. Puppets are great. Toys that can be used in multiple ways.

Limit tablet/ phone/ computer time. None at mealtime. Meal times are for family conversation.

Once school starts, if he needs at home help with any basic reading skills, the teacher will give you specific suggestions.

 

 

 

I don't trust her's picture

Submitted by I don't trust her on Wed, 08/08/2018 - 8:22am

He's starting Kindergarten and we do all these things already when we have them. Sometimes its nice to know what areas to focus on becuase if he's weaker we can do more to help. For example you say Candyland but we've found Shoots and Ladders to be better for him becuase he's struggling with directions like left and right. It's nice to know if that's a skill that is typical of his age or if we're expecting too much of him.

ESMOD's picture

Submitted by ESMOD on Wed, 08/08/2018 - 8:42am

IN the end.. don't get too overly hung up on getting the kid "perfect".  School is for learning and teachers do get kids who have a wide variety of skills and abilities and they work with all of them.  I think if I was a teacher of kids that age, my only real hope is that they could potty independently..lol.

As a point of reference, when I went to kindergarten we lived in Okinawa and the school I went to actually didn't do a lot of work on reading/math skills.  We did more learning plays and songs etc..  So when I transferred to first grade in a private parochial school back in the states I was pretty  behind.. but I caught up.  My parents did do some work with me, but it wasn't super intensive.