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Ready,
Set, Go -
Getting
off to a good start in your journey toward
Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a huge milestone in
your life and in the life of your
child. The year before Kindergarten
is a great time for you and your child to
get ready for this big life event!
Below
are some tips to think about as you
and
your child begin this journey:
-
Begin
early
- Talk with your child about
the change that will be coming and
allow your child to ask questions
and express fears.
-
Keep
it positive
- It's normal for families to
feel some anxiety when their child
goes off to Kindergarten, but if you
can, try to keep it positive when you
talk about the change with your child,
so that he or she doesn't feel anxious
about it as well.
-
Teach
new skills - Use the year
ahead to teach your child some of the
skills and routines that will be
useful in Kindergarten.
-
Make
connections between the adult's in
your child's life - If your
child currently attends child care or
receives special services, talk with
your child's teacher or therapist
about creating a transition plan for
your child. If your child has
special needs, set up a meeting with
the school principal to discuss how
the school staff can best support your
child's individual needs.
-
Take
a tour - most schools are
happy to have a child come for a short
visit to get familiar with the school
building and see a Kindergarten
classroom. Call the school that
your child will attend and set up a
time for a visit!
-
Find
out when Kindergarten registration
will be held in your county
- contact:
Martin County Schools @ 252-792-1575
Pitt County Schools @
252-830-4200
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Tips
for Families
Practice
these skills with your child until
he or she is able to do them ALL by
themselves!
-
Blow
nose, cover a sneeze with a
tissue
-
Use
the toilet independently
-
Wash
own hands
-
Snap,
button, zipper or belt own pants
-
Take
off and put on coat
-
Recognize
own possessions such as jacket,
lunch box,
etc.
-
Sit
at a table to eat
-
Eat
Independently
-
Use
silverware at mealtimes
-
Eat
at regular times during the day
-
Put
away toys when asked
-
Express
thoughts and feelings
Some children with special needs
may need help or support
materials to do these
things. Talk to your
child's teacher to figure out a
way to make sure that these
supports will be provided in
Kindergarten.
Fun
for Families
-
Let
your child help with household
chores such as folding laundry
or washing dishes
-
Understand
what can be reasonably expected
of children, especially yours
-
Go
to a park
-
Have
printed material everywhere
around your home
-
Don't
be afraid to turn off the TV
-
Bake
cookies or cupcakes from scratch
-
Look
at a flower together - up close!
Talk about what you see...
-
Put
out plastic containers and lids
with small items to move around
- this will encourage your child
to count, sort, and explore!
Resources
for Families
Book
Ready, Start, School!: Nurturing
and Guiding Your Child Through
Preschool & Kindergarten
by Sandra F. Rief
Websites
Child
Development Institute
www.childdevelopmentinfo.com
Smart Start
www.smartstart-nc.org
Check
out our LINKS page for
additional websites and
resources!
Information
adapted from
"Ready, Set, GO: A
journey to kindergarten
calendar"
For
your FREE copy,
contact
ChildLinks @ 252.758.8885
Please
note that copies are limited.
Book
Corner
The Night Before Kindergarten
by Natasha Wing
5-6 years

Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!
by Nancy Carlson
For
infants or children in
preschool
Tiptoe
into Kindergarten
by Jacqueline Rogers
3-6
years

Kindergarten ROCKS!
by Katie Davis4-6
years
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For
more information contact,
Martin/Pitt Partnership for Children
@252.756.1567
or email ?'s to martinpitt@mppfc.org
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