The Keys to Kindergarten Success
[STYLE {Children need a broad range of experiences From such eye-openers as museums to fun activities like combing the seashore for shells, broadening your child's world is a smart move. "The more kids are able to experience by the time they get to kindergarten, the easier it will be for them to learn and build upon what they're learning," says Laurie Marple, a kindergarten teacher in Davenport, IA.
Diverse activities can also help increase vocabulary. "One of the best predictors of a child's later success as a reader is the size of her vocabulary when she begins school," Hyson says. Helping your child explore her corner of the world will provide her with the chance to learn new words associated with visits to zoos, forests, lakes, stores, libraries, and so forth.
What to do:} {SECTION}] Even young kids can get something out of a trip to an art or science museum, whether it's seeing the difference between watercolor and oil paintings (then wanting to create both at home) or understanding that some animals sleep during the day and play at night. Go fishing or to a sporting event; call the fire department or police station to arrange a tour. Take a trip to the zoo, a local animal shelter, or a farm. Head to a gardening store and talk about plants and seeds, then buy some to grow together at home. Visit a pet store to buy tadpoles, put them in a fish tank, and watch them develop into frogs. "These simple activities aren't things a parent necessarily thinks of as wonderful experiences, but to a five- or six-year-old who's never experienced them before, they're fascinating," says Paquette.
[STYLE {Independence and problem solving are the cornerstones of success Teachers say they can pick out the children whose parents do everything for them: In reading groups, they want to be told the words instead of applying sounds; or, when it's their turn to write, they wait to be told which words to put down.
What to do:} {SECTION}] Assign chores at home, such as making the bed, feeding the dog, or taking plates to the sink. "This way, when we're teaching about the classroom community, it's not something new," says Paquette.
Teach your child to think creatively to work through everyday problems. "Kids' lives can be bumpy -- they're going to spill milk. Use the opportunity to say, 'Can you think of another way we could have done that so you won't spill the milk again?'" says Sharon Wilkins, author of Ready for Kindergarten: An Award-Winning Teacher's Plan to Prepare Your Child for School. Ultimately, you'll be giving him not only the gifts of autonomy and problem solving but the courage to keep trying too.
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