Can anybody tell me what my daughter should know before starting kindergarten??

Question

She will be 5 Aug. 23, so she will be pretty young, I am really not sure what to do, do I send her or do I wait, anybody have any suggestions? Thanks!

Answer 1

Alphabet, numbers up to 20, first & last name recognition, shapes, colors . . . all of this is great knowledge to have going into kindergarten . . . but what most teachers want to see are kids who know how to focus on one task for 5-10 minutes, kids who can sit still in their seat for story time (10-15 minutes), kids who separate from parents without too much of a meltdown, and kids who can play NICELY with other children (no biting, kicking, pushing - knows how to share, take turns, etc.). Granted, your child does not need to be a saint on the verge of angelhood . . . but if the child can do the above for the majority of the time, the transition into kindergarten will be smooth for the teacher, you AND your daughter. It is a VERY difficult decision to make. Personally, I sent my turned 5-in-June son to kindergarten last year and everything was just fine. Planning on sending my turning-5-in-August twin boys to Kindergarten this year! Best of luck!

Answer 2

School is very tough and everything has been pushed up a notch, but if the State says she can go - why not let her go. I have dealt with the same thing as you and am facing it in the Fall as well. Your main focus should be on your child's social skills and maturity. If Kindergarten is full-day, how will she be without you all day? Can she ask for the help she needs and keep her temper/emotions under control? Can she follow multi-step instructions and not get overwhelmed in a group? Does she take turns and is responsible with her things?

If Kindergarten is Half-day, that's a whole 'nother ball 'o wax. Most states require for kids to begin school by 6 (1st grade). Again, your biggest hurdle is maturity. Take her on playdates or to children's centers, the library, museums and things like that in order to learn how her behavior affects others (being loud in the library or pushing someone down at the park, etc.).

I'm sure she's a lovely young lady. States have these rules but you are the Mom, and you know your child best.
She'll be fine as long as you keep a positive attitude and make this an exciting adventure as possible.

If you're worried about academics, get some workbooks and read, read, read, read, read with her. Look at the school's website for the schedule of the day for last year and begin getting her accustomed to doing things at a certain time of day. Every little bit helps. Also, I purchased a Leapster for my Kindergartener and he moved ahead leaps and bounds. It is also an effective bargaining chip when disciplining him. You will soon figure out what works best.

Answer 3

Well, first look at her maturtiy level. Does she seem just as mature as some of her friends that are already 5? How does she handle diff. conflicks w/her peers? How much does she know already? Can she recognize all the letters in the alphabet, upper and lower? Does she know the sounds they make? How high can she count to? At least to 20, the higher the better. You are the only one that can make that judgement. Girls usually mature faster than boys, I usually suggest keeping boys back with late july b-days and august b-days. But some girls are ready for kindergarten w/late summer b-days. Did she attend a pre-k this last school year? If she did then she is probably ready for kindergarten. There is no other better judge on your daughter then you. Thats, all I know, hope I could help. Good Luck!

Answer 4

She should know her basic colors, shapes, know the general tune and lyrics to the alphabet song, numbers 1-10, as well as her name. Is she currently in a daycare situation? If so, the director should be of some guidance as to if she thinks she's ready for kindergarten. Most children are ready for the Big K and how well she responds to knidergarten will tell you whether she should be promoted to first grade or repeat. And by then you'll have a better handle on her knowledge.

Answer 5

Some important things I wanted my daughter to know were:

her phone number
what city and state she lives in
her address

The basics are always important too:

primary colors
ABC's all the way to Z
how to count to 10

I found it a surprise that todays schools are teaching our youth in kindergarten at a first grade level. My daughter had homework in kindergarten and he teacher said by the end of school that there was a list of words she was expected to know.
Standards are getting tougher on a national level than they used to be when some of us were in kindergarten!

Answer 6

My advice would be to hold her back a year.

As a teacher and a parent I believe it is better for your child to be towards the top of the class rather than playing catch-up all the time. Also, statistically speaking children who start school at an older age do better through out their education. Another year at home would help her enter school with more knowledge than many of the other students and her maturity level will help her navigate the new school environment.

If it turns out that you should have started her sooner and she rockets past all the other children what is the harm? Better than struggling to keep up with her peers year after year.

Answer 7

You are the only one who can judge her if she starts, normal signs are
- always saying "I want to go to school"
- beginning to read or knows the alphabet, able to write the alphabet and names of object around him.
- knows numbers 1 to 10.
- aware of the world around him

In my school district, 5 years old in Aug. 23 means that she can go to Preschool, Kindergarten or even Grade 1 depending on maturity. You're the only one that can decide.

Answer 8

She needs to be familiar with her alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, full name, and letter sounds. If she isn't writing, buy some of the writing tablets and write her name, alphabet, ect in dots and let her trace them for practice. She doesn't have to be perfect, as she will learn it all in kindergarten...just help get her familiar with everything.
She will be young for her class, yes. You might have problems about her maturity/age, but if she is learning everything with no problem, her maturity will catch up. If she can't handle the work, then you can always hold her back a year to let her catch up.
My oldest is a July kid and just graduated kindergarten. It was a struggle with the teacher complaining and wanting to hold him back because of his age, but she complained about all of the younger kids. Of course he's sharp and knew everything before he started pre-k, and what she taught him in kindergarten he picked up on real fast, therefore he kept getting bored. If he knows everything he can learn in kindergarten then there is no reason to hold him back. If he has learning problems in 1st grade, then I'll hold him back.

Answer 9

You can get the curriculum from the school board. Mine is listied online on the school board website. In it defines what kindergartners should know by the end of the year. That is what I did for my son, so we can start working on the skills where he is lacking during the summer.

August is a great birthday plus she is a girl so they tend to advance pretty young in speech. good luck!

Answer 10

There is an extra among "shyness" and now not being in a position to entire paintings on time or keep on undertaking. In truth, the 2 are very unique. Children must be in a position to conclude their paintings speedily. More than most probably, the entire children are doing is useful handout, with a few quantity paintings or letters. In addition, might be a few coloring. In Kindergarten, academics emphasize great moter advantage and a baby's capacity to entire paintings speedily. If your baby are not able to conclude her paintings on time for some thing cause, it is customarily extra of a predicament via the trainer than a feedback. After all, it is already February. In a couple of brief months, your baby shall be promoted to the primary grade. In first grade, paintings is completed extra independently. Kids ought to begin finding out the best way to funds their time and paintings swiftly, but conveniently. If she's now not beginning to grasp this now, she'll have a difficult time getting it earlier than the top of the yr. As for shyness, Part of a trainer's process is to arrive out to the quieter children. Teachers ought to mission youngsters. You maybe OK along with her shyness, however she demands to be taught to be a bit of overt commonly. It's now not healthful to be too shy. The trainer is calling your baby to talk up, what is mistaken with that. If your daughter is aware of an reply, she must say it out loud. I believe the trainer that being "too shy" isn't correct. She's going to be overpassed academically if she does not be taught to claim herself. I do not see any quandary with the trainer. IMO, you must be operating with the trainer to battle your daugther's shyness. She are not able to pass via existence being too shy. When she will get older, her friends will stroll in all places her, her boyfriend's will take skills of her. She would possibly not be in a position to specific herself whilst she demands to. IMO, homeschools is obviously now not the reply. Your baby demands to be in a school room with different children socializing almost always. If she's homeschool, she could have peers, however now not a consent move of humans round. In that case, you'll be able to be helping to her shyness and now not serving to it. Don't you wish your baby to conquer her shyness and be in a position to claim herself into the arena? If she's overly shy, she could expand socializing disorders or she could have vanity disorders.