To be prepared for kindergarten, young children need to practice letter recognition, naming the letters and verbalizing the sounds associated with each letter. Children need to see letters in both uppercase and lowercase forms. Flashcard games and alphabet fridge magnets can help with letter recognition. Preschoolers should specifically be taught to recognize their own names. Name plates and toys with their names printed on them can help children recognize their names on sight.
Kindergarten teachers find it helpful when children have some familiarity with the numbers. Young children should start practicing the numbers from one to ten before entering school, learning to visually identify numbers and pronounce the name of each number. Parents and preschool teachers can help children learn to count by counting objects in the home or preschool classroom on a daily basis.
Children can master shapes and colors by playing with toys of various shapes and colors while an adult or older child repeatedly names the colors and shapes. Using finger paint is another fun way for children to learn about colors. Parents or preschool teachers can tell children the names of the paint colors and identify the colors that will result from mixing paints, such yellow and blue paint making green paint. Everyday objects such as balls can also help teach shapes and colors.
Giving children practice using various kinds of markers, crayons and pencils helps them develop fine motor skills that are essential in kindergarten. You can let them use tweezers to pick up small objects and transfer them from one dish to another. Preschool children can practice buttoning and zipping their clothes. Using play dough strengthens hand muscles and modeling it into objects supports fine motor skills.
Preschoolers need to learn that reading always happens from left to right and top to bottom. While reading to them daily, adults can point to each word to help the children follow along. Simple books with rhyming words can help children develop reading readiness skills needed for success in kindergarten. Parents can label objects in their homes, such as furniture, to help children practice reading words throughout the day.
In school, children will need to be able to pay attention to the teacher. Ways to help children develop these skills include reading aloud, having conversations with them and giving them the opportunity to follow directions for short tasks and simple chores, such as picking up toys from the floor and placing them in a toy box.
Attending activities such as story time at a local library can help children develop social skills for successful interactions in the kindergarten classroom. Children need to learn to play together and share materials or supplies. Most children begin to learn social skills at home as part of a family. Those skills are enhanced through play dates, classes and birthday parties with other children.