Is your child ready for success in Gull Lake Community Schools?

You are your child’s first and most important teacher. Now, you are thinking about kindergarten. You may be asking yourself, "Is my child ready?"

Readiness is not determined by age; however, your child must be 5 before December 1^st to enter kindergarten. Remember children with fall birthdays may be nearly 1 year younger than other children in kindergarten. Besides age, you may want to know if your child is "developmentally" ready. Being developmentally ready means that your child has abilities and skills to be successful in kindergarten. Children who start kindergarten without being developmentally ready may become frustrated, sad and stressed. When children feel this way it effects their behavior and ability to learn. Below is a list of things your child needs to be able to do when they start kindergarten.

My child:

• says his whole name
• takes care of his belongings
• can be away from me for 2 – 3 hours without being upset
• sits still and listens for 5 – 10 minutes without becoming restless
• asks questions about things she sees, hears, touches, etc.
• pays attention to one toy, person or thing without becoming distracted
• listens to and follows directions
• speaks clearly and does not wander from subject to subject
• can tell the main idea of a story
• adjusts to change without becoming fearful or stressed
• obeys rules
• plays well with other children
• accepts making mistakes without crying or pouting
• can solve simple problems on her own when he’s playing
• understands how to play the right way with paint, clay, blocks, etc.
• knows the letters of the alphabet
• knows the sounds that several letters make
• knows that some simple words rhyme such as cat – bat, mad – sad,
• knows a few songs, nursery rhymes and poems
• writes his first name
• tries to write other simple words like cat, mom, dad, car
• knows numbers 1 to 10
• knows the basic colors
• knows and can draw basic shapes
• knows how to look at and turn the pages of books
• can stand and walk in a line

If you can answer yes to most of these items, then your child is ready for kindergarten. If a child struggles with any of these items perhaps a year of preschool would be a good idea. Also, do not be discouraged and blame yourself. Many of these things come with growth and experience. If you are greatly concerned contact

Steve Patterson

Gull Lake Community Schools

School Readiness Coordinator.

269-964-4877

spatterson@gulllakecs.org

for ideas about programs, services and activities that will help you help your child get ready for school success!