Starting kindergarten is a big and exciting step for all our five-year-olds. It also can be a brand new experience for parents and families. So everyone feels prepared, the Collaboration for Early Childhood has gathered some helpful pointers and tips to ease the transition to Kindergarten.
There are four key aspects of child development that parents can nurture to set their children up for success in kindergarten. The Collaboration refers to these as the 4 Building Blocks of Kindergarten Readiness. They are:
- Social & Emotional Development
- Self-Care, Physical Well-Being & Motor Skills
- Language & Communication Skills
- Early Academics
As you get ready to start a new school year, it can be helpful to talk to your child about what to expect. This is a big transition for your child and for YOU!
Here are a few tips for making the transition:
- Make sure your child has the completed health requirements
- Reassure your child that it is OK to feel nervous about new things
- Develop daily routines including consistent wake-ups and bedtimes so they can begin to get used to a school schedule
Information about District 97 Kindergarten Registration for the 2021-22 School Year:
Students who are registering for kindergarten for the 2021-22 school year must be at least 5 years old and must be born on or before Sept. 1, 2016.
The process has changed this year. You will need to first gather the necessary documents, then meet with the District 97 registrar to have your documents reviewed. After that, the registrar will explain any next steps for you to do to finish the process. Read about the required documents, the registration steps, and make your appointment here. (When you click to make an appointment, you will first be asked to create an account and enter the name and birth date of your child).
Continue being your child’s first and most important teacher. Get connected to local resources to support learning at home:
- Oak Park Public Library and River Forest Public Library both offer 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. A fun, long-term challenge to read every day. These libraries also will have great recommendations of children’s books about starting kindergarten that parents can read to their child.
- Sign up for Ready4K, a FREE evidence-based text messaging program to help incorporate learning into everyday routines (tips are based on your child’s age).
Additional Resources for Parents and Caregivers Preparing for Kindergarten:
- Visit the Collaboration for Early Childhood’s Transition to Kindergarten page
- How Parents of Preschoolers Can Support Social-Emotional Development from Brookes Publishing
- Building Social an d Emotional Skills at Home | NAEYC
- Parent Resources, Tips, and Advice from PBS Parents
- Social and Emotional Learning: Strategies for Parents from Edutopia
- Early Childhood Innovation Spotlight: Ready4Routines from Center of Developing Child
- Self-Regulation Alert Program® for Parents from the Alert Program
You can watch the video below and see more videos in the article, Helping Preschoolers Build Self-Regulation Skills That Are the Foundation of Success.