Nowadays kindergarten readiness has developed into a big issue. With the state increasing kindergarten to a full day program, they have also changed the curriculum to align with what used to be many of the first grade goals. The saying is, “Kindergarten is the new first grade.”
With that in mind parents are scrambling to enroll their children in quality preschools that will help prepare them for a successful kindergarten experience. Kindergarten teachers encourage social and emotional skills as having the highest priority. Studies show that a child’s score on these skills in kindergarten predict later success in life. See study: https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/selstudy/#
Here is a list of emotional/social developmental milestones for 4-5 year olds from : http://www.kamloopschildrenstherapy.org/social-emotional-preschool-milestones
Between the ages of 4-5 years, your child will:
- Show some awareness of moral reasoning, such as “fairness,” and good or bad behavior
- Develop friendships
- Express more awareness of other people’s feelings
- Enjoy imaginative play with other children, such as dress up or house
- Get better at sharing and taking turns with other children
- Enjoy playing games, but might change the rules as he goes
- Stick with a difficult task for longer period (controlling frustration or anger better)
- Show an understanding of right and wrong
- Listen while others are speaking
- Play games with simple rules
Red Flags for Social-Emotional Development (5 years)
If you notice some of the following things by the time your child is 5 years old, you may want to ask for help from your doctor or from another health professional such as a mental health clinician, a speech-language pathologist, an occupational therapist, or a psychologist.
- He is not interested in playing with other children
- She is not able to share or take turns with other children
- She wants to be dependent on her caregivers for everything
- He is extremely “rigid” about routines and becomes extremely upset when things are changed
- She has extreme difficulty separating from you
- He is too passive or fearful and does not want to try things other children his age are doing
- She has extreme fears that interfere with daily activities
GPL will again host a program especially designed for children and parents who are enrolling in kindergarten this year. Ready, Set, Kindergarten is scheduled for Thursday May 4th 6-7:30 pm. Greenwood kindergarten teachers and administrators will be there to answer your questions along with lots of interactive stations. The most surprising things we learned last year was that children need to learn how to open their milk or juice cartons, balance a food tray, eat lunch in the 20 minute time frame, put their coats and shoes on independently, and be able to endure a full school day without a nap. To register: https://tinyurl.com/k8hwldx
We have developed our preschool story time classes to focus on fine motor development, phonemic awareness, and letter recognition along with having lots of fun with books. Our summer sessions fill up quickly so remember that registration opens May 15th @ 9am.
Online resource check list for kindergarten readiness:
