Starting kindergarten is a big step for your child and also for you as parents. To prepare, here are some activities to try to encourage your child’s independence before school starts:
Dressing and Undressing
-Practice using all types of fasteners (lace, buttons and zipper) of the clothes your child wears the most (rain coat, shoes, pants and warmer jacket).
– In the entrance of the house, let your child find their clothes alone and get dressed. It’s interesting to have them learn the dressing sequence on their own without your intervention.
Cleanliness
-During various visits to new toilets (in public places), train your child to lock / unlock the door, manage the amount of toilet paper, wipe themselves alone, and flush the toilet.
Meals and Snacks
-During picnics, encourage the child to eat properly and manage their lunch box on their own (i.e., open and close containers / thermos, choice of foods to eat first, manage their garbage).
-Have the child practice filling their water bottle in different places (water fountain, sink, etc.)
Backpack Management
-During outdoor outings, encourage your child to fill their backpack with necessary items and carry it alone.
Managing School Materials
-When coloring, encourage your child to sharpen their pencils on their own and to handle a pencil case filled with pencils, scissors, eraser, etc.
– Practice drawing with a pencil and erasing cleanly.
– Ask your child to put their drawings in a duo-tang or folder.
It’s also important to stimulate working memory (in the short term, memorizing instructions underlying a task) of your child. This is required daily in kindergarten for crafts, transitions or work. For example, you can tell them, “Before you leave the house, I need you to brush your teeth, apply your sunscreen and take your hat!”.
Support your child in all tasks as needed while aiming for autonomy! Have a good summer and above all, have a good start to the 2021 school year!
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