8 Tips to Get Ready for Kindergarten
By Liz Holden Boatwright
The transition to kindergarten can be emotional for kids and for their caregivers. Whether your child attended preschool or this is their first time in school, the kindergarten classroom is often a completely new experience, and the transition can be anxiety-inducing. But by practicing the skills and activities needed for kindergarten, families can help to ease the change and make the way for a successful first year of school. At the North Shore Children’s Museum, we’re happy to be a resource to help set children up for success. Here are some of our top tips to help you get ready for kindergarten.
Hone Their Reading Skills
A landmark educational report found that, “the single most important activity for building knowledge for their eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.” Reading at a young age helps teach kids emotional regulation, builds their phonetic skills, and strengthens their brains. It’s a low-cost, easy way to help kids learn.
And at the North Shore Children’s Museum, we have several exhibits to help make reading more fun. In our storytelling room, children can play with an oversized story book and can act out their favorite books in our puppet theatre. The sensory room provides a quiet and peaceful space with books in several languages, focusing specifically on moods and feelings.
Practice Counting Skills
Counting skills are another skill that can easily be incorporated into daily routines. At home, counting can be a challenging game – ask kids to estimate how many objects are in a jar, and then have them count and see how close they are. You can also involve them in activities like counting money, measuring ingredients for recipes, and using a tape measure.
Our museum features a piggy bank exhibit where kids can hone their counting skills while engaging in play. By counting money, using a pretend ATM and drive-through window, and acting as bank tellers, the exhibit integrates quantitative learning with play.
Socialize
One of the most important aspects of kindergarten is learning to play with other kids – to share toys, to play cooperatively, and to tolerate differences of opinion. The North Shore Children’s Museum offers a low-pressure place for kids to interact and play.
Get Crafty
In kindergarten, kids will learn to use scissors, pencils, and other writing and art supplies correctly. Our Makerspace is stocked with a rotating collection of crafting supplies, along with suggestions for art projects. In this room, kids can hone their creativity while practicing essential fine motor skills.
Join the Crowd
For many kids, one of the biggest adjustments of kindergarten life is the expectation that they sit attentively in a classroom and pay attention to the teacher. Standalone events and classes can be a fun way to practice this skill for shorter periods of time. Library story hour, musical and theatre performances, and the North Shore Children’s Museum’s programs – including upcoming yoga, nursery singalong, and music classes – are all great options to help kids learn to comfortably pay attention.
Practice Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills, such as jumping, climbing a ladder, and catching a ball, are important for kindergarten-aged kids. In Peabody and surrounding communities, we’re lucky to have many vibrant and well-maintained local parks and playgrounds where kids can play and let out some energy while developing these skills. And at the North Shore Children’s Musuem, our Gross Motor Room features giant blocks, a construction corner, and an indoor play structure.
Get Into the Groove
Particularly for kids who haven’t attended school, the kindergarten routine can be all new. Several weeks in advance, set your alarm and start waking at the time you’ll need to be up for school. Try to establish a meal routine similar to the one your child will have at school, and make sure they know what to expect in their daily routine. You can even walk or drive to school to preview what drop-off will be like when the time comes.
Talk to the Experts
If you have concerns about whether your child has the skills they need for kindergarten, there are resources available. Talk to your child’s preschool or kindergarten teachers or reach out to your local school department to talk through your questions. The State of Massachusetts also offers resources for families.
There’s plenty of time left this summer to help your child prepare for a great school year and fight summer learning loss, and visiting our museum can be a fun and vital part of that. Visit our Tickets page to reserve your spot and learn more about our membership and reduced admission options.