Making a Successful Transition Into Kindergarten

ASK THE EXPERTS: Donna Tavalieri, PT and Gina Schmakel, OTR/L

As pediatric physical and occupational therapists we are often asked "What types of activities are best to prepare my child for kindergarten?" We believe that by building a good foundation of gross and fine motor skills, children will be better prepared for the expectations of kindergarten and beyond.

Good gross motor skills provide strength, balance and coordination in the body, arms and legs that is needed to support fine motor control e.g. sitting at a desk to color or write.

Ideas to promote gross motor development:
Painting or coloring with chalk on a large easel, drawing/coloring with sidewalk chalk on cement and/or using soap crayons in the bathtub (these activities use more whole arm movement)

1. Digging in the dirt or sand
2. Jumping, galloping, skipping
3. climbing, hanging, swinging, etc. on playground equipment

Fine motor coordination skills continue to become more refined as children progress through kindergarten.

Ideas to promote fine motor development:
1. Hand/finger strengthening activities

• Molding and cutting Play Dough to make different imaginative things
• Building with resistive type blocks e.g. Legos
• Squeezing a squirt bottle to erase the chalk drawings from the sidewalk or easel
• Playing with resistive type toys e.g. Velcro toy fruits and vegetables, legos
• Crumple paper and throw into trash (use trash can as a target for more fun!)

2. Two handed activities

• Stringing beads of different sizes big to smaller on pipe cleaners or shoe laces
• Hold piece of paper with one hand and use other hand to snip with child scissors.
• Pull apart toys e.g. Legos
• Ripping paper to be put in the trash

3. Grasp skills

• Coloring with small pieces of chalk or crayons (break them down from their original size)
• Picking up small food items such as Cheerios, raisins, M&M's etc. with pointer finger and thumb
• Pushing small objects into Play Dough and then dig them out
• Lite Brite

Most importantly explore, be creative and have fun with your child's development!

Donna Tavalieri, PT is a licensed pediatric physical therapist and co-founder of Pediatric Potentials LLC in St Clair Shores. She is a graduate of Wayne State University.

Gina Schmakel OTR/L is a licensed pediatric occupational therapist and co-founder of Pediatric Potentials LLC in St Clair Shores. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University.

SAVE THE DATE:
Making a Successful Transition into Kindergarten
A special follow up to The Family Center's past fall "Kindergarten: Get Ready!!" presentation.
Tuesday, Feb. 2, 7pm
Barnes Early Childhood Center
20090 Morningside Dr., Grosse Pointe Woods
$5/person
RSVP by Jan. 26 @ 313.432.3832 or info@familycenterweb.org

The Family Center, a 501(c) 3, non-profit organization, serves as the community's centralized hub for information, resources and referral for families and professionals.
To view more Ask The Experts articles, please visit our website www.familycenterweb.org.

Please email your questions to info@familycenterweb.org
To volunteer or contribute, visit familycenterweb.org or call 313.432.3832.
20090 Morningside Drive, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236

Essential Pre-Kindergarten Skills

ASK THE EXPERTS: Beth Moran, Early Childhood Teacher

Q. Does My Child Need to Know Letters and Numbers Before Kindergarten?

A. It is vital in the preschool years to provide your child with experiences to help him/her gain skills and build a foundation for school. But, does my child really need to identify colors, shapes, letters and numbers before entering kindergarten? The answer is YES!

Kindergarten is no longer just play time. It is now like first grade used to be and our children need to be prepared. It is often a difficult task because the kids want to have play time and as parents, we want to be sure our children are prepared for Kindergarten. Expectations include first grade skills. There are now state guidelines on what a child needs to know as a kindergarten student.

The big question is, "How can I teach my child the academic skills and still make it fun?" Parents will often say that every time they get out the flash cards, their child runs or cries because they don't want to do them. There are so many ways to teach academics and make it fun. Join us for an evening of hands on activities that are enjoyable and cover the basics needed before Kindergarten.

At what age should my child be able to perform certain skills?

For 2- to 3-year-olds
1. Names colors
2. Uses words to request
3. Points to 3 basic shapes (circle, triangle, square)
4. Repeats a simple sentence (I want a cracker.)
5. Names pictures in a book
6. Listens to a short story
7. Knows parents names
8. Knows first and last name
9. Compares sizes (big and little)

For 3- to 4-year-olds
1. Names colors
2. Names 4 basic shapes
3. Counts by rote
4. Learns and repeats songs and finger-plays
5. Identifies animals and the sounds they make
6. Matches, compares familiar objects as to color, form, and size (put all the red blocks in the red container)
7. Hears likenesses and differences in sounds
8. Describes pictures and tells actions
9. Knows age

For 4- to 5-year-olds
1. Names colors
2. Names 4 basic shapes
3. Shows interest in learning letters and numbers
4. Recognizes upper case letters
5. Recognizes lower case letters
6. Recognizes the numerals 1-10
7. Counts by rote
8. Identifies the various sounds the letters represent
9. Counts the correct number of items in a row
10. Matches a numeral with that number of items
11. Hears likenesses and differences in sounds
12. Sees likenesses and differences in pictures
13. Speaks clearly
14. Copies specific printed shapes or designs
15. Knows address
16. Knows telephone number
17. Prints first name without copying
18. Uses imagination and creativity in play
19. Problem solves

Beth Moran is an ECP teacher at Barnes Early Childhood Center and can be reached at 313-432-3803. She has a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from Wayne State University. She received a Masters Degree + 40 credits, in Special Education, from Wayne State University, as well as her ZA endorsement. She taught Kindergarten, 1st and 3rd grades in Highland Park before having a family. She spent 22 years at the Grosse Pointe Pre-Kindergarten (10 as a director), before joining the Grosse Pointe School System in 1998. Beth's passion for teaching continues to bring joy to her life everyday.

SAVE THE DATE:
Making a Successful Transition into Kindergarten
A special follow up to The Family Center's past fall "Kindergarten: Get Ready!!" presentation.
Tuesday, Feb. 2, 7pm
Barnes Early Childhood Center
20090 Morningside Dr., Grosse Pointe Woods
$5/person
RSVP by Jan. 26 @ 313.432.3832 or info@familycenterweb.org

The Family Center, a 501(c) 3, non-profit organization, serves as the community's centralized hub for information, resources and referral for families and professionals.
To view more Ask The Experts articles, please visit our website www.familycenterweb.org.

Please email your questions to info@familycenterweb.org
To volunteer or contribute, visit familycenterweb.org or call 313.432.3832.
20090 Morningside Drive, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236