When should parents begin thinking about what they can do to prepare their child for kindergarten? Here are some common responses to that question:
- The summer before my child starts kindergarten.
- When my child is 3 or 4 and goes to preschool.
- When my child can talk and walk.
- At birth.
Certainly there are different activities parents and children will do and different conversations they will have depending on the child’s age, but preparing for kindergarten (and for life) begins when a baby is born. There are lots of suggestions elsewhere on this website, especially in growing readers and building strong families. This section includes ideas, resources, and research specifically about what being prepared for kindergarten generally means, and how parents can help their child be prepared for the fun, joys, and challenges of kindergarten.
- When Kindergarten Looms – Where does the parent with a kindergarten-bound child start? What does it even mean to be “ready” for kindergarten? And what should parents and grandparents be doing to help?
- Transitioning to Kindergarten – some things you can do to prepare both you and your child for kindergarten.
- Ready or Not Kindergarten, Here We Come! – tips for parents and families
