Parents, haven’t we all felt that twinge of nerves when it comes to the loaded phrase: “kindergarten readiness?” Whether we are just beginning to explore elementary school options or we are on the cusp of sending a child for his or her first day of kindergarten, we wonder if our child is ready. We want to do everything possible to help him or her not only adjust but thrive in such a new and important academic setting.
Well, Smarties, we have found a terrific way to make sure your child is ready! Caroline Robicsek, a former kindergarten and junior kindergarten teacher at Charlotte Country Day School, has come out with Kits for Kinder activities boxes.
Each month you receive a box of materials to use at home to help prepare your child for kindergarten, augment what he or she is doing at school or use as a tool for home schooling. Included in the first kit is a calendar of suggested daily activities, with star stickers to track a child’s progress, guidelines for parents or caregivers, a recipe (this one is for homemade playdough), a book to read together and a series of activities that help with literacy, math, fine motor skills and handwriting,
“Preparing young children for school success begins at home,” Robicsek says.
As intimidating as that can sound, Kits for Kinder provide such an easy way to make sure you’re doing all the right things as a parent! I have twin sons who are bound for kindergarten in the fall, and our Kit for Kinder has provided me such easy access to tools that help keep their little motor skills developing over the summer and their brains engaged with skills they need to read.
Not only that, the kit is such an easy source of fun activities they can do during “quiet time” or on a rainy day, or let’s be honest, a super hot afternoon! Everything you need is in one place, with simple and straight forward directions. The kits are also super easy to pack for a visit to grandmother’s house or a trip to the beach! We have even taken ours to an appointment, when I needed to occupy one twin while we waited for the other one.
You can get a new kit each month, or let your child use it at his or her own pace. Each box comes with supplies to do the best-loved learning activities from the more than 20 years Robicsek has spent in early childhood education. If it feels like she crafted the kit personally for you, it’s because she basically did. Robicsek said the idea for Kits for Kinder came to her after so many friends, family and acquaintances asked for her advice on how to get their children kindergarten ready.
Robicsek said she has noticed over the past few years, especially since the pandemic, that many children don’t have basic school readiness skills. She has seen this firsthand in her more recent role conducting admissions interviews for Country Day.
It just so happens that Robicsek interviewed my oldest son Wade for kindergarten, and even though the interview was on Zoom coming out of COVID, she had such a wonderful way of putting him at ease and drawing out his best. (He’s now entering second grade at Country Day.) She earned my trust and respect that day, and when I heard she had created these boxes, I jumped at the chance to try them with my younger sons! I recommend them so highly! And spread the word to your parent friends who are feeling the “kindergarten readiness” angst too!
The boxes retail for $38 each, which includes sales tax and shipping within the continental U.S. For more information and to order, visit Kits for Kinder.
