Getting ready for kindergarten
At its core, kindergarten readiness is being ready to function in a classroom. Children must be ready to learn. We help children get there by teaching social-emotional skills and encouraging independence.
Is your child ready to learn? Can they . . .
- Follow one- or two-step directions?
- Hold a pencil and use scissors?
- Handle a book properly?
- Sit and listen to a story?
- Share and take turns?
- Be away from their family for a long day?
- Stand in line?
- Communicate their needs?
- Use the bathroom independently?
- Zip up their jacket and fasten their shoes?
- Work with a group of friends toward a common goal?
Kindergarten teachers agree–having some previous classroom experience can help make the transition to kindergarten much easier.
“When I taught kinder, it was more difficult for those students who didn’t have any previous school experience. Something a simple as lining up was difficult for them because they didn’t know what a line was. So those early childhood learning experiences are so, so important.”
“Kids have to get used to being away from their family for long days, sitting and listening to a story, taking turns in line — the social and emotional things. When students have had those experiences before coming to my class, you can see that. I think that quality preschool is more important than it ever has been.”
Learning Through Play
Young children learn best through play. In our preschool classrooms children play with different materials, in small groups and large groups, inside and outside. In addition to developing skills you’ll read about below, children get early exposure to:
See what skills our children learning and practicing through play:
Social-Emotional
Collaboration and teamwork; Problem solving with peers; Negotiation for materials
Physical Development
Fine motor development; Eye-hand coordination
Cognitive Development
Planning a challenging task; Sustained attention on a task; Building patterns; Grouping objects
Language and Literacy
Sharing about their construction; Describing over, under, around; Increased vocabulary
Math and Numbers
Counting, sequencing, patterns, symmetry, one-to-one correspondence.
Benefits of Block Play
Benefits of Block Play
Social-Emotional
Collaboration and teamwork; Problem solving with peers; Negotiation for materials
Physical Development
Fine motor development; Eye-hand coordination
Cognitive Development
Planning a challenging task; Sustained attention on a task; Building patterns; Grouping objects
Language and Literacy
Sharing about their construction; Describing over, under, around; Increased vocabulary
Math and Numbers
Counting blocks; Comparing sizes; Sorting; Identifying shapes
Benefits of Block Play
Benefits of Block Play
Benefits of Dramatic Play
Social-Emotional
Children develop empathy and learn to regulate emotions; Problem solving with peers; Negotiation for materials
Physical Development
Fine motor development; Eye-hand coordination
Cognitive Development
Children use props to represent other items (using a box as a car) which fosters symbolic thinking and enhances problem solving skills
Math and Numbers
Counting; Basic addition (how many plates are needed? What is the total price at the store?); Comparing sizes; Sorting
Language and Literacy
Children expand vocabulary and improve communications as they create story lines and narrate their actions.
Social-Emotional
Children develop empathy and learn to regulate emotions; Problem solving with peers; Negotiation for materials
Physical Development
Fine motor development; Eye-hand coordination
Cognitive Development
Children use props to represent other items (e.g., using a box as a car) which fosters symbolic thinking and enhances problem solving skills
Language and Literacy
Children expand vocabulary and improve communications as they create story lines and narrate their actions.
Math and Numbers
Benefits of Dramatic Play
Benefits of Dramatic Play
Social-Emotional
Children develop empathy and learn to regulate emotions; Problem solving with peers; Negotiation for materials
Physical Development
Fine motor development; Eye-hand coordination
Cognitive Development
Children use props to represent other items (e.g., using a box as a car) which fosters symbolic thinking and enhances problem solving skills
Math and Numbers
Counting; Basic addition (how many plates are needed? What is the total price at the store?); Comparing sizes; Sorting
Language and Literacy
Children expand vocabulary and improve communications as they create story lines and narrate their actions.
Social-Emotional
Children develop empathy and learn to regulate emotions; Problem solving with peers; Negotiation for materials
Physical Development
Fine motor development; Eye-hand coordination
Cognitive Development
Children use props to represent other items (using a box as a car) which fosters symbolic thinking and enhances problem solving skills
Language and Literacy
Children expand vocabulary and improve communications as they create story lines and narrate their actions.
Math and Numbers
Counting; Basic addition (calculating how many plates are needed, adding prices at the store); Comparing sizes; Sorting
Benefits of Dramatic Play
Benefits of Music
Social-Emotional
Group music-making encourages cooperation, turn-taking and confidence; Managing emotions
Physical Development
Dancing and playing instruments enhance gross and fine motor skills.
Cognitive Development
Patterns; Sequences; Repetition of songs aids in developing memory and concentration.
Math and Numbers
Patterns, rhythm, symmetry, counting, sequencing, one-to-one correspondence
Language and Literacy
Songs introduce new vocabulary, sounds and language structures
Social-Emotional
Group music-making encourages cooperation, turn-taking and confidence; Manage emotions
Physical Development
Dancing and playing instruments enhance gross and fine motor skills.
Cognitive Development
Patterns; Sequences; Repetition of songs aids in developing memory and concentration.
Math and Numbers
Patterns, rhythm, symmetry, counting, sequencing, one-to-one correspondence
Language and Literacy
Songs introduce new vocabulary, sounds and language structures
Social-Emotional
Group music-making encourages cooperation, turn-taking and confidence; Manage emotions
Physical Development
Dancing and playing instruments enhance gross and fine motor skills.
Cognitive Development
Patterns; Sequences; Repetition of songs aids in developing memory and concentration.
Math and Numbers
Patterns and sequences boost early math skills
Language and Literacy
Songs introduce new vocabulary, sounds and language structures
Benefits of Music
Social-Emotional
Express ideas and emotions, self-expression through colors, textures and art materials
Physical Development
Fine motor development as children use scissors, markers, paintbrushes, etc. Manipulation of materials strengthen small muscles. Hand-eye coordination
Cognitive Development
Trial and error when experimenting with materials, abstract representation of what they know, cause and effect
Math and Numbers
Color recognition, shapes, patterns, spatial reasoning, measurement, comparison, counting, symmetry, balance
Language and Literacy
Use of descriptive words (color, shape, texture, spatial relationships), discuss art through storytelling, sequencing
Benefits of Art
Social-Emotional
Express emotions; Thought reflection; Self-expression of individuality and originality
Physical Development
Fine motor development as children use art tools. Manipulation of materials strengthen small muscles.
Cognitive Development
Cause and effect with color mixing. Trial and error experimenting with materials. Planning and organizing their ideas.
Math and Numbers
Color recognition, shapes, patterns, spatial reasoning, measurement, comparison, counting, symmetry, balance
Language and Literacy
Language development as children describe their work. Vocabulary development related to art concepts and materials.
