How Can Parents Help Their Toddlers Prepare For Kindergarten?
Heading to kindergarten is an exciting time for kids and their family members alike. It is a new experience that most children embrace, and it is a time when parents realize that their toddlers are growing up. Parents are not required to prepare their children for kindergarten in any specific way. But if you are like most parents, you want to do all you can do to ensure that your child is ready and able to succeed at school. Here are some activities you can engage in with your child to help get them prepared for kindergarten:
Count Objects
Place objects on the table to count with your child. Start by placing up to 10 of the same type of object down (such as apples, toy cars, cotton balls, or toothpicks) and count the objects together until your child understands the concept and can count the objects on their own. Once counting one object has been mastered, start placing multiple types of objects down and have your child count each set of objects to determine how many of each are on the table. Then count all the objects together to determine the total number of objects on the table.
Memorize Counting to 20
You can simply practice counting to 20 with your child until they memorize the numbers and can do the counting on their own. Start by counting to 5 and work your way toward 20. Just keep adding a number or two until your child can successfully count to 20 on their own. You can practice anywhere, like in the car, at the dinner table, or while you are helping them in the bathtub.
Sing the Alphabet
Singing the alphabet will give your child an opportunity to learn the letters in the alphabet so that they are familiar with the sounds once they begin school and start sounding words out with their teacher. Split the alphabet up into 7 or 10 letters in each group, then practice singing each group with your child. Once your child can sing each group of letters on their own, put the whole alphabet together and practice singing the entire song from beginning to end until your child has memorized it.
Match Words to Pictures
You can start teaching your child how to read by matching written words to pictures so that they can correlate the words to the pictures. For example, write the word cat down on a piece of paper then find a picture of a cat to pair the word with. Do this for several basic words such as boy, girl, tree, box, and ball. Eventually, your child should be able to recognize what the words say without looking at the pictures.
For more tips, contact a toddler learning center near you.
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