Preparing An Only Child For Kindergarten

By: Susanne Meyers

Do you have an only child? I do and I worry about preparing her for kindergarten. Of course, like many moms of one child, I was worried about whether she’d have a disadvantage compared to other children, because she didn’t have siblings. I did some research to see what I could do to help my daughter prepare for Kindergarten. Here’s what I found.

Socialization

Find ways to get your child together with other kids her age. This will help her learn to interact with other kids, how to share, and even how to argue. If you don’t have any friends with children your age, look around for Moms Clubs (look into local churches and your city parks and recreation department for groups in your area). Playgroups are also a great way to expose your child to other kids who are roughly the same age. Another great way is to take her to storytime at your library or bookstore. Also, go take her to the playground ever few days. Choose a playground with lots of other kids, so she has a chance to make friends while she plays.

Recognize Colors And Shapes

Recognizing colors and shapes is another important piece of the puzzle. Play with your child during the day. Play “I Spy” with different colors and shapes and see if she can guess what you see. “I spy something red” could be anything from an apple to a stop sign. Cut shapes out of different colors of construction paper and teach her which one is a circle, triangle, rectangle etc. Then, run through your colors. Stick the cutout shapes in an envelope for a quick portable game the two of you can play anywhere. You can even tie in the “I Spy” game to the envelope of shapes.

Read Books Together

Reading is another focus in kindergarten. Prepare her by reading books to her every day. Reading helps your child to realize that the letters on the page represent words, which is an important first step in the reading process. By reading books above her age level, you’ll also expose her to new words and develop her vocabulary.

Work On Numbers And Letters

Another important skill your child should master before entering kindergarten is recognizing numbers and letters. Work with her on her letters and the numbers 1 through 10. Try singing the alphabet song with her while pointing to each letter. You can also choose a letter of the day or letter of the week. Practice writing the letter with her and point it out as you come across the letter on signs or in books the two of you are reading.

Susanne Myers created http://www.kidsactivitycalendar.com to help her child and others prepare for Kindergarten. To get your free sample lesson, stop by http://www.kidsactivitycalendar.com/letter-a-sample.htm today.

Article Source: www.ladypens.com

August 5, 2009 · Filed Under back to school, parenting

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Comments

One Response to “Preparing An Only Child For Kindergarten”

Susan Dineen on October 2nd, 2009 2:56 pm

Thanks for publishing the wonderful article helping parents with preparing their child for kindergarten and beyond. My daughter and I share your interest in being a resource to parents and recently launched http://www.productiveparenting.com, a free website that provides simple, daily activities to keep in step with your child’s growing mind. The activities have been contributed by experts in Early Childhood Education and can be accessed online or by email. If interested, specific activities can also be located by keyword, category, and skills learned. Pleae visit and share the site with others!

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