When we talk to parents of preschoolers and pre-kindergarteners, one of the most common questions we hear is, “How do I make sure my child is ready for kindergarten?” This is completely understandable. All parents want their child to be set up for success when they start school! So, parents are usually relieved when they hear that they can support their child’s kindergarten readiness with a few simple, every day activities.

At New Horizon Academy, kindergarten readiness is a main focus of our preschool curriculum. Children are regularly assessed to determine whether they’re on track, and if they need any additional learning or support. As a result, more than 95% of New Horizon Academy pre-k children meet or exceed the standards for kindergarten preparedness in all learning domains, according to 2023-2024 assessments.

Learn More About Kindergarten Readiness at NHA

 

5 Activities to Help Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten

Focus on these five skills to ensure that your child is well-prepared for kindergarten.

1. Letter Recognition and Writing

• Play with refrigerator alphabet magnets.
• Write in shaving cream in the bathtub, in salt or sugar in a cake pan, or in finger paint. This will make writing practice multisensory – and more fun!

2. Number Recognition and Counting

• Count throughout the day. For example, count the crackers your child is eating for a snack, or the socks that you take out of the dryer.
• Point out numbers you see in your environment and ask your child to name them.
• Play games in which your child finds objects of particular colors and shapes around the house or in your neighborhood.

3. Reading Readiness

• Run your finger under the words as you read to your child. This will help them learn that words go from left to right and top to bottom.
• Play rhyming games to help your child hear similar sounds in words. For example, as you’re going up the stairs, name one word that rhymes with cat for each step.

4. Attention and Following Directions

• Give your child two- and three-step directions. For example, ask your child to put on pajamas, brush their teeth, and choose a book to read before bedtime.
• Play “Simon Says” with two- or three-step directions.

5. Social-Emotional Skills

• Help your child realize and understand their own emotions – feeling sad, mad, happy, or excited – and about what makes them feel that way. Provide your child with ideas on how to communicate those feelings with others.
• Read books about characters who are learning about their emotions. Talk to your child about the characters’ actions with questions like, “Why do you think the character felt angry?” or “What did the character do to communicate how they were feeling?” This will help your child build social awareness.

 

For more ideas, we asked Desiree, the director at our Apple Valley, Minnesota daycare, about the essential skills that children should have before entering kindergarten.

To learn more about kindergarten readiness at New Horizon Academy, and to see our accredited preschool and pre-k classrooms, schedule a tour today!

Find a Pre-K Program Near Me

New Horizon Academy is a nationally recognized preschool and early learning provider with 100 schools in Minnesota, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, and Kansas. Through research-based curriculum and high-quality childcare, New Horizon Academy schools nurture and prepare children to succeed in school and in life.

Schedule a tour to see our safe and secure facilities, meet our experienced teachers, and learn about our dedication to providing the highest quality care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Contact a New Horizon Academy daycare and preschool center near you today!

Find a Preschool