TEACHERS! What are the MOST important things to teach your child before they enter kindergarden?

Question

I cannot afford preschool for my child. My income is not low enough to get her into head start (I have already tried) but it's not enough to pay for it myself. I just need some advice on what to teach her so she will not be so far behind the other children. She has attended preschool for about 3 months but due to financial reasons I had to withdraw her. So what are the most important things she should know? And what are some good ways to teach it to her at home? Would you say movies? books? hands on activities? etc....

Answer 1

Preschool isn't a requirement, but in school children get accustomed to the classroom setting, learn to interact with other children and also learn basic behavioral skills. As a kindergarten teacher, I put my time into the basics: reading, writing, math, etc, so instead of focusing on that, try a different approach. Prep her on good manners (please&thank you are a must!), and encourage good study skills like reading everyday and integrating learning into life (good examples: asking her to count her toys, showing her different types of animals in the zoo, pointing out the continents while watching television, etc.) As always, teach her to share, respect you (and eventually her teacher), and to be social and have fun!

Answer 2

I don't think a child HAS to learn anything before going to Kindergarten. That is why they go to Kindergarten...to learn the alphabet, counting, colors, etc.

Of course it never hurts to do some learning activities with them at home. Light activities such as reading, games, science experiments, and crafts are fun and can be a good learning experience.

My daughters went to Kindergarten and I also did things at home with them just to help them along but, I didn't pressure them into learning anything. Make it fun and they will pick things up easily. Now is not the time for pressure..they will get plenty of that later on in their life.

But, if I had to give a list to concentrate on then I would say things like letters, numbers, colors, shapes, and same and opposites (hot/cold, in/out, short/tall, big/small). And of course, READING! Reading stories is the best thing you can do for your child I think.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Can put on coat hat boots mittens

Can use zipper buttons snaps learning to tie shoes

Uses bathroom w/o assistance and w/o accidents

Willing to share with others has age appropriate social skills

Has basic manners please an d thank you etc.

Cooperates with children and adults.

Yes I am special, but so is everyone else

We work TOGETHER because everyone matters not just me.

(Sorry but a lot of Kindergarten kids do NOT learn this anymore!!)

Takes care of her personal needs such as toileting and using Kleenex.

Self Care and Getting along are In My Opinion

the most important skills to bring to school

Without them teaching and learning are a constant battle.

Don't say I CAN'T unless you've you've tried it

then don't cry ask for help

Can hold and use crayons pencil scissors

Can identify red orange yellow green blue and purple

Knows basic shapes circle square rectangle triangle oval           diamond star

Can count up to 10 objects or more

Counts up to 20 or higher

Sings simple songs

Can recite alphabet and  recognize most letters

Knows the letters in her name

Can write her name even if it is backwards or mixes small and large letters.

You don't have to make her sit all day

She can learn most of this playing

except for the writing.

She can learn letters off signs food labels magazines etc.

Colors from food, toys clothes etc

numbers from setting the table counting toys and dolls etc.

KEEP IT FUN!!

Answer 4

*She should be able to recognize her name in print and write her first name.  Teachers like for them to write their name starting with an upper case letter and then lower case, but if she writes it in a recognizable way that will be ok.  Make sure she knows her last name and can tell you, My name is Mary Smith.

*Teach her to recognize as many letters as possible by starting with letters that have meaning to her, like the letters in her name, and then other meaningful letters like m-o-m and d-a-d.

*Teach her to count, but make it fun and meaningful.  Count forks to set the table.  Count how many stop signs you see on the way to the library.  Count how many friends came over to play today.

*Make a small box of art supplies.  Include child scissors, a small bottle of glue, crayons, markers and paper.  Work with her to teach her how to use them.  Little dots of glue.  Only at the table.  Scissors are only for cutting paper.  This teaches fine motor skills and creativity.  Make it a literacy activity too if you want.  Cut out the letters of her name from an old magazine and glue them on paper to make a fancy name sign!

*Take her outside and play!  Run, jump, climb.  Go for a walk.  Go swimming if you can.

*Encourage lots of language.  Use big words and explain what they mean.  Listen, REALLY LISTEN, to what she has to say so that she knows you value her thoughts.

*Teach her her phone number and her mom and dad's names so she will be safer if she is ever separated from you.

*Read, read, read to her.

*LOVE HER and ENJOY HER to the max!  That way she will grow up confident and strong and ready to learn in kindergarten!

Answer 5

Needs to know how to count to 30.

Identify numbers up to 20.

Know and identify all letters of alphabet.

Know the sounds of each letter of alphabet.

Shapes. Colors. And more.

There is actually a list that teachers give to parents on first day or week of school.

Answer 6

Speaking of your income there r programs that wiil help you pay for a good pre school, Teacher her to spell her first and last name, as well as write her name, Colors, shapes, numbers, teach her basic three letter words like cat dog mom dad you want her to have a head start before entering Kinder. Make sur you do basic science projects at home, basic cooking projects at home, I am noty sure wher you live but if there is a Lakeshore in your area go there because they have free workshops and activities This is coming from a teacher who has taught preschool for 10+ years. Make sure she knows how to use her fine motor, gross motor, cognitive, and social skills

Answer 7

Since it is not a requirement that children attend preschool, yours will not be the only child that did not attend.  My children could have attended but I chose to keep them home with me instead until they went to Kindergarten.  They picked things up right away and are all at above averages in their grade.  They basically went to Kindergarten knowing how to write their own names and a little bit more and are now reading/writing/drawing at a couple of grade levels above where they should be.  Don't put so much pressure on yourself.  It will all work out.  Enjoy this time with your child.

Answer 8

I am a veteran kindergarten teacher who has just opened a website for parents of children ages birth to five.  It is called www.wigglegigglelearn.com.  Come over to the site and look under the tab INFORMED PARENT on the navigation bar.  You will see all of the skills that are expected before entering kindergarten.  I invite you and your friends to also sign up while you are there.  If you have any questions about the skills or other questions about kindergarten, I would be more than happy to answer them.

Answer 9

Typically you should be working on ABC's, your child should know how to write his or her name, and simple math.

We also work on basic concepts in preschool such as weather, calendars, opposites, reading, manners.

You should teach them how to behave in school as well.

Also, work on coloring if necessary, they will do a lot of that in Kindergarten.

Answer 10

In preschool we tend to work on the following:

Appropriate tripod grasp of markers, pencils etc

Cutting appropriately with scissors on the line

Coloring in the Lines

Receptive & Expressive ID of ABC's

Receptive & Expressive ID of Numbers 1-50  (depending upon your state)

Simple math (addition, subtraction)

Prepositions

Sight Words

Make sure you find fun ways to implement these things.  Use side walk chalk for writing, fingerpaint....you don't want to discourage your child and preschoolers love messes.  Be sure to read to your child also.  Reading promotes a much wider range of vocabulary than television or radio offers.  Also work on recalling information from stories and having your child tell you about their day or something you did together.  This will help your child work on sequencing and articulation!

Its such an enjoyable time....they are so fun!

Here are some great websites that offer preschool themes and lesson plans:

perpetualpreschool.com

lessonplanspage.com

primarygames.com

atozkidsstuff.com

everythingpreschool.com

Hope these help!

Answer 11

Please, please, please, teach your child how to write her name with the first letter capitalized and the rest lower case. It is so frustrating to children to have to relearn this when they have learned it already all in caps.

The most important thing you can do is read, read, and read to your child. Talk about the book before reading it. Have her ask questions she might have about it, and make predictions before you turn the page. Rhyming books are great. You can read the first part and then let her say the word that rhymes. Read lots of nursery rhymes and let her see you reading as well. Learning her personal information is important too. Practice reciting her full name, phone number, and address. It makes it easier if you put the address to song. For example, in my class children who are having trouble with addresses sing it to the tune of London Bridges..."I know my address is 18112, 18112, 18112, I know my address is 18112, East Skyline Circle".  Hope that helps.

Answer 12

Simple Things Like

Her ABC's How To Count At Least Up To Twenty

Simple Things 1+1=  2+2=

Answer 13

Many of the important things have nothing to do with academics. Can she manage in the bathroom by herself? Can she wash her hands if they get messy? Can she get her own jacket on and off? Does she know how to take turns? Can she listen to a story in a group and focus on the story? Does she know her full name, her address and her phone number? Has she been away from you for more than a few minutes and does she separate easily? Many public libraries have story hours which are a great way to begin to learn to function in a group, and they are free. Also check to see if there is a vocational high school nearby that teaches Early Childhood and has a lab school for it's students to gain experience. The teachers who run those programd are usually experienced Early Childhood Educators.

There are also the readiness skills. Does she know colors and shapes? Can she count objects up to 10? Being able to count to 50 is a cute memory trick but it is meaningless if the child has no concept as to what the numbers mean. Let her help you count spoons to set the table, match socks when you are sorting laundry. One of the signs that a child is ready to learn to read is that she recognizes common logos and symbols. Can she choose the cheerios over the corn flakes? Does she know when you are approaching her favorite fast food restaurant. Can she pick out the Dora tape from looking at the label? Take opportunities to show her words that have lettters in common. "Oh look, Kellogs starts with K,just like Katy. KKKK" That sort of thing.

     She needs to be able to write at least the first few letters of her name and know what those letters are but do not expect perfection. Provide fat pencils and unlined paper to start. When she has that under control move to paper with wide lines.

     Read to her-a lot! Sometimes as you read run your finger under the lines of type from left to right. If the story repeats the same word on almost every page point out the word. Ask her to tell you the story in her own words, and encourage her to "read" a familiar story to a doll or stuffed animals.

     Stay away from workbooks and coloring books. They do little to help a child of her age learn, stifle creativity, and can be quite frustrating. Instead, let her draw and color a picture and dictate the story so you can write it down. Use simple print and make the letters larger than print.

     Buy her a set of those old fashioned wooden alphabet blocks, the ones that are cubes. Post an alphabet chart at her eye level and let her explore it on her own.

     Most of all, make sure that she thinks learning is fun and that she meets with success early on. That will let her enter kindergarten ready and eager.

Answer 14

I'm going to add something over and above what what everyone else said.  I didn't read every answer in detail, but the ones I saw had fantastic thoughts in it.  Kudos to the answers in this question.

For me, I view the classroom very differently.  It is not a place to learn how to do specific things...it's a place to learn how to work independently, make choices, build up concentration, and develop a love of learning.  Through that, the child will learn a lot of the things that were brought up if they are available to the child.

So...no specific ideas of WHAT to teach her.  You got some good responses here.  But I will say this.  No matter what you teach her, be sure to include those ideas.  If she develops a sense of independence while still understanding she has to build that independence in the context of respecting other people's rights in the classroom, she will go farther than simply whether or not you "taught her everything" she needs to know for Kindergarten.

Just something to keep in mind!

Matt

Answer 15

I would teach the child to be able to recognize their name as well as to write it. Teach the child the alphabet and how to count to 20. I would read to the child every night and get him/her to read simple books with you. Also, teach him/her how to tie shoes.

Answer 16

I would call the school he will be going to and find out what is needed for that school.

Here are a few things:

Name, address, mother and fathers names,

hopefully can write name with help is ok- or at least recognize it.

say ABC's and recognize some, attempt to write some. Some of the sounds they make

count to 50 and recognize at least 1-10 (at target they have a great toy for this-cookies in a jar and every cookie has a # (say 3) and on the other side that cookie will have 3 chocolate chips

simple addition (show your child 1 apple + 2 apples)

Rhyme. this is important to teach kids to rhyme, it's the first step in reading. Be silly with it.

Repetition! I count everything with my kids, and count while driving in the car, even if they don't do it-they are hearing it. Read to them and move your finger so they see you go left to right.

Here is an article at parent center about teaching your child ABC's  and YES! hands one activities are GREAT!!

http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/exper...

Here's a check list of things they need to know: http://www.mpls.k12.mn.us/Before_Kinderg...

Here's another good one I found:

http://school.familyeducation.com/kinder...

Answer 17

There are 2 extremely important things.  First, READ to your daughter daily!!!  She will learn a love of reading from you!  The second most important thing to teach your child is how to interact with other children.  She will be used to interacting with other kids and will not feel like you are 'leaving' her and never coming back.

Going over the ABCs, the numbers, shapes, colors are good, but make sure you do the first 2 things.  It will give her a head start.  Most important, read, read, read, read!

Answer 18

with a child that young, do as much hands-on as you can.  get the basics, color identification, abc's (not the song, the letters themselves, both written and oral, and work on sounds, too), counting, 1-to-1 counting (where she physically moves or points to each item every time she says a number), and of course, teach her to write her name.  this is barebones minimum