Starting kindergarten is a big and exciting step for all our five-year-olds and their families. To help everyone feel prepared for this brand new experience, the Collaboration for Early Childhood has gathered some helpful pointers and tips to ease the transition to Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Registration Information: 

Children must be 5 years old by September 1st in order to start kindergarten. Connect with your local school district for registration information:

What is Kindergarten Readiness?

There are four key aspects of child development that parents can nurture to help ensure their children are ready for 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

Kindergarten is a big transition for your child and for YOU! To help you ease the transition as you get ready to start a new school year, it can be helpful to prepare for what to expect. 

Here are a few tips to ease the transition to kindergarten: 

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). Learn more.

Additional Resources for Parents and Caregivers Preparing for Kindergarten:

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.

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