Ideas for Students Entering Pre-K


1. Review with your child his or her colors. Play "I Spy".  When sitting in a room say "I spy with my eye something that is red....". Have your child guess the object you are thinking of.  If your child knows some shapes you can review shapes in a similar way too!

2. Get your child's hands ready for writing and using scissors.  Allow them to mold shapes with play-doh to get their fingers working.  Have them decorate cookies and use thier pinching fingers to pick up small decorations.  Allow them to explore crayons, pencils, pens, coloring books, and scissors.

3. Introduce your child to the counting numbers.  Practice counting things in the house and in your child's natural environment.  For example, when grocery shopping, have them help you count how many things you have in your cart.  They can count seashells they find on the beach or help count dishes when they help you wash the dishes at home.

4. Practice turn-taking with your child. If they have siblings or cousins or even if they do not,play simple games that require waiting and turn-taking.  Many stores like Wal-Mart and Toys R Us have simple board games for children.  Some good games include Candy Land, Hi-Ho-Cherrio, and Bingo.

5.  Have your child practice being independent.  Allow them to try dressing and feeding themself and using the toilet and washing hands independently.  



6. If your child is still learning English be sure to encourage them to learn numbers and counting, colors, and shapes and letters in both English and their primary language.  This will be very helpful as they enter school.


7. READ, READ, READ with your child!!!  Ask them Who, What, When, Where, and Why questions as you read.  Ask them to recall events in the story and tell you their favorite parts.  Some excellent children's authors include:
Eric Carle
Lois Ehlert
Tomie de Paola
Kevin Henkes
Ezra Jack Keats
Pat Hutchins
Leo Lionni
Bill Martin Jr.
Mercer Mayer

8. Encourage your child to use thier gross motor skills.  Allow them to play outside and practice climbing, running, and jumping and throwing and catching a ball.

9. Introduce your child to the computer.  If you have access at home allow them to play on Nick Jr.com or on Starfall.com.  The Apple Store in malls also has an area for children to play on the computers.  This is an inexpensive and fun day out!

10. Enjoy the summer together and talk about the fun they will have in school!

Ideas for Pre-K Graduates

1. Continue to practice naming letters, numbers, and shapes.

2.Continue to encourage your child to use thier hands.  Provide them with coloring books, crayons, and don't forget scissor practice for the summer.

3. Continue to encourage your child to write their name.  First letter capitalized, the rest of the name lowercase.

4. Practice rhyming words to help with pre-reading.  You can sing the song The Name Game where you try to rhyme silly words to your child's name.  You can also quiz them in the car to tell you words that rhyme with things you see as you drive.  For example, I see a tree... what rhymes with tree?

5.  Continue to practice your child's address and phone number.  Have them write letters or draw pictures and mail them to your house for brothers or sisters or other family members using thier address.

6. Continue counting.  You can count as you shop in the grocery store, or count seashells at the beach.  Ask your child to use 1:1 correspondance.  For example, Can you put 3 bags of pretzels in the shopping cart?

7. Continue to read to your child.  Have them answer questions about the story and review the story's events.  Ask them what happened first, second, and third to practice sequencing skills.

8. Encourage the use of gross motor skills.  Provide your child with plenty of outdoor play.  Now that they understand rules of games better, invest in a t-ball tee or make a soccer goal and encourage them to hit and kick balls for game purposes.  

9. Enjoy the summer with your child, relax, and talk about how great kindergarten will be!