At Golden Pond School we are often asked if children are ready for Kindergarten. There are important skills children need to have acquired prior to starting Kindergarten that make this milestone year a successful and happy experience.
- Social & Emotional Skills – This is one of the most important areas of readiness. Children need to be able to cooperate with their peers in groups and activities and be able to control their impulses. Being comfortable with non-family authority figures reduces stress and allows children to be able to focus on their academics.
- Motor Skills – Fine Motor skills that work small muscle groups include drawing, coloring, cutting and beginning handwriting. Gross Motor skills that work large muscle groups include walking in a straight line and throwing a ball.
- Cognitive & Intellectual Readiness – Cognitive readiness is when a child is able to answer questions about their environment, assemble simple puzzles, understand similarities, differences, and opposites. Intellectual readiness are learning skills a child needs to make a smooth transition like knowledge of colors, numbers up to 10, some letters of the alphabet and shapes.
- Curiosity & Eagerness – Children will be most successful if they learn to ask questions, think independently, and be creative. They should be curious about the world, how things work, and how to creatively approach problems. Ask your child questions like “Why do you think that?” or “Where do you think we could find the answer to your question?”. You are encouraging your child to think for themselves and building their self-esteem.
