What Every Child Should Know Before Entering Kindergarten

Why are we concerned with what a child should know before entering kindergarten? This blog is dedicated to new moms right? Well to answer this question, learning begins directly after birth, and many doctors and scientist believe it begins to happen before then. Preparing your child for school is a task that starts way before they make their way into a classroom.

Here are some of the basics that your child should know before entering the Kinder classroom, keeping in mind that each child develops at a different pace:

Math: Math knowledge in regards to a pre-kindergartner should consist of primary shapes (including the oval and diamond), basic colors (including white, brown, and black) and numbers up to 10. They should be able to identify the above concepts by sight and be able to recite them. It is not uncommon to see children writing 1-10 before they come into the Kindergarten classroom, although most teachers don’t see it as a “requirement”. They will be taught to write 1-20 during the kindergarten year.

Language: Children should be able to say their first and last names, and have a decent vocabulary built up. They should know basic nouns and verbs, and be able to speak in articulate, complete sentences.

Writing: A kindergarten-ready student should be able to write her first name, and last name, while knowing that they both start with a capital letter. They should not be forced to write out the entire alphabet if they are not ready to do so. But if they have been enrolled in pre-kinder programs, or have an at home study program, then they might indeed know how to write the alphabet in lowercase. If they don’t have this skill, they will be taught such things throughout the kindergarten year, so don’t panic.

Social Skills: If your child is an only child, or first child, make sure they are introduced to groups of children before they get into kindergarten, this is where pre-kindergarten classes really benefit a child. You don’t want the idea of a huge group of new kids to overwhelm them, and entering the kindergarten room shouldn’t be their first exposure to new kids.

Other Helpful Knowledge: Children should know their basic body parts, how to tie their shoes (if they don’t please double or triple tie them before class). Also, they should be aware of general clothing articles such as pants, short, dresses and shoes. They should know their phone number, and if possible their address –at least city and state.

As mentioned before, each child does develop differently, so take these words as a guide. It is an excellent idea to place your child in a pre-kindergarten (preschool) class. Also, we recommend the Genius Maker Program by TeachMyBaby.com as an enrichment program for your toddler-through-preschool aged child.  It really works wonders and will give your child a major head start in learning.