Nobody wants their child to be behind in their development. And every parent hopes that their little one will be well prepared with the basics by the time they enter kindergarten. If you’re not sure if you’ve covered some of the essential basics with your child up until this point, we’re here to help! Here are some of the skills all children should learn before they’re five.
Preliminary Reading
Having some basic reading skills under their belt can really help your child prepare for kindergarten. It’s unlikely that they will be able to read a book at this stage, but they should be able to understand that reading happens from left to right and that the pictures tell a story. Having an initial understanding will help them excel once they start learning how to read.
The Alphabet
At some point, your child will be taught how to spell. And knowing the names of the letters can greatly help them to master their ABCs. Showing them the alphabet song before they turn five can give them the basics they need before they learn how to read and write.
The Difference Between Day and Night
Learning to tell time can be a very difficult task for children that can take some practice. Start them off on the right foot by teaching them the difference between day and night. You can also make the task easier for them by using an analogue clock with moving hands instead of a digital one.
Colours and Shapes
By the age of five, your little one should also be able to recognize the main colours — black, white, red, blue, yellow, orange, green, and purple. They should also be able to tell the difference between basic shapes and be able to match them up consistently.
Basic Numbers
In kindergarten, your child will learn how to count and develop some very basic math skills. So another skill your child should have mastered by the time they start school is how to count from one to ten. And if they can manage to write all of these numbers down in proper order, they will be ahead of the class.
Preliminary Self Care
When your child takes off for kindergarten, they will need to be independent for a significant portion of the day. So at this stage in their lives, your child should have mastered how to use the toilet independently, how to dress themselves, and how to put on their shoes without direction.
Respect
Not all children develop their social skills at the same time. However, it’s valuable for your child to have learned how to respect authority figures as well as other children by the time they turn five. Take the time to develop their social skills so that they know how to follow directions, share with others, address adults in the proper manner, and how to clean up after themselves.
Every child learns at a different pace. And, as a parent, it can be difficult to know if your child has all the skills necessary for when they enter school. That’s why we recommend joining a daycare like Tiny Hoppers before they turn five.
We’ve teamed up with professionals in their fields of expertise to provide a leading and stimulating program for your children. This allows us to offer carefully planned programs that are designed to develop your child’s cognitive, social, fine motor, and emotional skills that are necessary for school and life as they continue to develop. Start them off on the right foot by contacting us today to find out more. https://www.tinyhoppers.ca/curriculum/
