October 3, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Preparing for the First Day of School

Do you have a preschooler heading to kindergarten in September? Starting kindergarten is an exciting adventure for children and families. It’s a new beginning for learning, making friends, building confidence, and gaining independence. It’s also totally normal for both children and parents to be nervous and excited about starting kindergarten as well.

“Being ready for school doesn’t simply mean knowing letters and numbers,” explained Santa Monica-based Connections for Children Executive Director Patti Oblath. “Children need support in several domains including their social and emotional development, their physical abilities, their language and communications skills, as well as their early learning.”

Early childhood educators suggest the following Top 10 Things Children Will Need to Know for kindergarten readiness.

“Use the summer months to teach your child these skills to help ensure a happy and successful transition to kindergarten,” experts advise.

1. Communication:
As children enter kindergarten they need to be able to communicate in understandable sentences with adults and other children.

2. Expressing feelings and emotions:
It is helpful for children to know how to express their needs and emotions. This, along with being able to manage their behavior when feeling frustrated, angry or sad, is an import step for school.

3. Self-help skills:
Self-care, such as getting dressed, buttoning, zipping and putting on shoes allows for independence. Children need to be able to wash their hands, feed themselves, blow their nose and use the toilet by themselves.

4. Independence and cooperation:
Children should be able to work and play both independently and in groups. This involves the skills of taking turns, sharing, helping others and resolving conflicts.

5. A,B,Cs, and books:
Knowing the alphabet, being able to write their first name and how to use a book are pre-learning skills for reading.

6. 123s, color and shapes:
Counting out 10 objects correctly helps children to understand number concepts. Knowing their colors and shapes is another skill which is relevant.

7. Small and large motor skills:
Children should be able to do small motor activities such as using a pencil, crayon and paint brush along with large motor activities such as kicking a ball, climbing a ladder and hoping on one foot.

8. Listening and following directions:
Being able to listen and follow directions helps children to be able to focus, concentrate and participate.

9. Daily schedule and healthy breakfast:
Over the summer, develop a daily schedule including a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast. This regular routine prepares them to be fully ready to learn.

10. Health checkups:
Children should be up to date with doctors and dentist visits, immunizations along with vision and hearing screenings to support a healthy start to their kindergarten experience.

Parents and carers can find more information on kindergarten readiness at connectionsforchildern.org.

Related Posts

CCHS/PTSA All School 2023 Grad Lawn Signs for Sale

April 11, 2023

April 11, 2023

Submitted by the Culver City Unified School District  Purchase a lawn/window sign for $10 to honor a Culver City High...

CCUSD’s Measure K Oversight Committee Seeks New Members

April 11, 2023

April 11, 2023

To maintain the required number of Committee members, the District is now looking for at least one new Committee member...

Culver City High School’s Ibrahim Golfing Family Featured in New NBC Film

April 5, 2023

April 5, 2023

Ibrahim siblings’ success on the golf course captured in short film feature “Home Course Advantage” Rashid Ibrahim’s journey to the...

Culver City High School Celebrates International Women’s Day With New Short Film ‘Reflections,’ Written and Directed by Young Women

March 14, 2023

March 14, 2023

Award-winning student short film “Reflections” released online in honor of International Women’s Day ​​When school shut down in the spring...

Culver City Arts Foundation Awards El Marino Rainbow Taiko $3,000 Grant

March 1, 2023

March 1, 2023

Grant money will be used to purchase new taikos Culver City Arts Foundation, a local 501(c)3 supporting the creative culture...

Parents Protest Mounting Bullying, Violence and Racism at Culver City Schools

February 21, 2023

February 21, 2023

Town Hall set for February 27 to discuss campus safety Culver City schools are dealing with mounting criticism from parents...

Nearly 500 CCUSD Students Unite for First All-District Music Concert Since Pandemic

February 15, 2023

February 15, 2023

Concert set for Wednesday evening at Robert Frost Auditorium On Wednesday evening, February 15, nearly 500 Culver City Unified School...

CCUSD Board Reviews Plans to Strengthen Structures for Students in Need

February 7, 2023

February 7, 2023

Board of Education has reviewed plans to strengthen structures for students who need extra support The Culver City Unified School...

CCUSD Board Shines Spotlight on Elementary Schools, Reacts to Monterey Park Shooting

January 31, 2023

January 31, 2023

Board of Education celebrated the collective efforts of their elementary schools by recognizing the Five Pillars of Supporting Student Need...

CCUSD Assistant Superintendent Robert Quinn Announces Retirement

January 24, 2023

January 24, 2023

Quinn retiring after over 20 years of service Robert Quinn, the District’s Assistant Superintendent, Business Services, announced this week that...

Culver City’s El Marino Elementary Named 2023 California Distinguished School

January 11, 2023

January 11, 2023

Ceremony to be held next month at Disneyland Hotel State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond last week announced that...

Culver City Sister City Committee Seeks Exchange Students

November 29, 2022

November 29, 2022

Submitted by the Culver City Unified School District  The Culver City Sister City Committee (CCSCC) is looking for eight students...

Parents Claim Neglect After School is Closed Due to Water Damage

October 25, 2022

October 25, 2022

Parents of children attending John Muir Elementary say the district failed to respond to water damage and mold leading to...

Naloxone to Be Made Available at All Culver City Unified K-12 Schools in Coming Weeks

October 4, 2022

October 4, 2022

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health providing doses of naloxone at no cost to the District in response...