Children who are not emotionally ready for kindergarten often suffer greatly when separated from one or both parents. If your child has spent most of her life with you and never attended preschool or day care, you may need to ensure that separation anxiety won't be a problem. Allow her to stay overnight with relatives or spend an evening with friends to allow her to get acclimated to being away from you on occasion.
A child who is very shy may suffer when it's time for school as well. Expose your child to a variety of social situations and settings, and allow her to meet new people of all ages on a regular basis. Encourage her to be outgoing in order to help her get over her bashfulness before it's time to start school.
Even the most sheltered child needs to develop the basic social skills that govern human interaction. Ensure that your preschooler is able to play well with others, share toys without tears or fighting, and take turns with others. Help your child learn to work as part of a group and develop problem-solving skills by letting him help you and the rest of the family with household chores, simple cooking projects and the grocery shopping. It's important that he can listen to and follow instructions and rules as well.
Children possessing basic academic knowledge will enter kindergarten with more confidence and self-assurance than those who don't. Help your child learn her alphabet, numbers, colors and shapes. Teach her to write her name, cut with scissors and assemble simple, age-appropriate jigsaw puzzles. Ensure that she knows her name, address and telephone number as well. Spend time reading to her and ask her to turn the pages of a picture book, and tell you a story based on the pictures. Make learning fun and do all you can to instill an interest in education.
Long before it's time for kindergarten, start teaching your child how to care for his basic needs. Teach him to put on his coat and button or zip it; how to fasten and unfasten all of his clothing so he's able to use the restroom unassisted; how to blow and wipe his own nose; and how to feed himself without you being there to cut his meat or put a straw in his milk carton. The best thing you can do for a child who is nearing kindergarten is to help him learn independence, so he's not left waiting for one harried teacher who needs to assist 30 students.