By Jas Dillard, Kumon of Myers Park
Develop excitement and curiosity for your first year in school! Start now to develop motor development skills, enjoy books, counting and recognizing numbers out of sequence. Here are some tips to prepare your kindergartners.
Fine motor skills
– Using a pair of scissors: Children should be able to hold a pair of scissors correctly and cut in a straight line.
– Writing: Children should already have a consistent pencil grasp with a preferred writing hand and be able to write their own name, writing letters from the top to the bottom. Mazes and dot-to-dots develop pencil control. Size #2 Beginner Pencils are easier for new writers to hold.
– Getting Ready: All kindergarteners should know how to get dressed by themselves. This includes knowing how to zip up jackets, button pants and shirts, and tie shoes.
– Handling objects: Playing with Play-Doh®, lacing string, and threading beads also encourages the use of fine motor skills.
Reading
– Daily Practice: Children love to be read to. Try to pick a certain time of day to read for at least 20 minutes so your child develops the stamina to sit and be read to at school.
– Letter recognition: When school starts in the fall, children should be able to recognize numerous letters and be aware of what sounds they make. Letter Magnets and Foam Letters for bath time are fun ways to learn as well as workbooks for letter writing if they enjoy writing.
– Leap Frog Videos: Leap Frog has made a timeless series of videos like Letter Factory and Phonics Farm that help early learners recognize letters and sounds.
Math
– Counting: Count numbers up to 100 in ones and in tens. Be able to recognize numbers out of order from 1 through 50.
– Writing: Write numbers from 1 through 20 from the top of the number to the bottom.
– Grouping: Using counting and matching to compare two groups of up to 10 objects and to find if there are more, less, or the same in each group.
Play
– Structured play: Playing card and board games with your child can teach taking turns, following directions and rules, as well as how to be a gracious winner and deal with the disappointment of losing. These are important skills to be successful with learning and playing with kindergarten peers.
To learn more about us visit us at
Kumon of Myers Park
Parktowne Village
1600 East Woodlawn Road, Ste 261
Charlotte, NC 28209
704-327-8839
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Kumon of Matthews – Weddington McKee
Plantation Market
3016 Weddington Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28270
704-846-8798
Kumon of Wesley Chapel
5922 Weddington Rd. A7
Wesley Chapel, NC 28104
704-843-5555
