7 Things You Must Do to Get Your Child Ready for Kindergarten

Sending your child to Kindergarten can be daunting. Here are 7 simple tips to make the process a little bit easier.

1. Increase your expectations

Remember, your child is more capable than you think. Encourage your child to do things for themselves, especially during self-care tasks like dressing, toileting, eating and getting ready to leave the house. Engage with them by providing verbal or visual cues instead of physical help.

2. Check in with their preschool teacher

Reach out to your child’s preschool teacher to find out how they are doing in the pre schooling environment. They may have suggestions for areas to work on at home.

3. Develop their Social skills

Encourage your child to interact with other children of a similar age. Arrange playdates for social practice. Sign them up for local dance classes or sports teams. It is a great way for them to develop their social skills.

4. Start using Visual timetables

Timetables can help your child to better understand the structure of a day and week.  A timetable such as this daily timetable is a great way for a child to understand all events involved in the day ahead. 

5. Play board games and card games

Board games are a fun way to practice taking turns and develop waiting skills- both of which are essential in a classroom. It's also a great way to teach your child how to lose gracefully.

We love simple card games like memory or snap using our favourite Bluey cards.

6. Take your child on lots of outings

Plan some family outings to places such as the library, the zoo or the shopping centre to prepare your child for school excursions. This also helps preparing them for exhaustion that comes with busy days!

7.PLAY!

Saved the most important for last. Play is the best way to promote fine and gross motor skill development as well as social skills. Encourage your child to engage in activities such as beading, cutting, drawing, painting, building, running and climbing. 

Play-doh play is a great way to strengthen little fingers, engage in creative play and practise using fine motor skills.

Please note this blog post contains some recommendations that have affiliated links.

Parent Guide to Starting Big School

For more school readiness tips grab a copy of our ebook.

Other posts you might find helpful:

• Who do I contact if my child will be away from school?

• What should I expect in the first few weeks of Kindergarten?

• Will my Child Have Homework in Kindergarten?

• What does the day in the life of an Australian Kindergarten student look like?

• What Should I Expect from a School Kindergarten Orientation?

• 7 Things You Must Do to Get Your Child Ready for Kindergarten

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• What are the top 10 signs my child is NOT ready to start school?

• What age does my child need to be to start school in Australia?

• My child is almost school age but I don’t think they are ready. What can I do?