At Home Pre-School Boot Camp: Week 2 Summary

Here we are in week two of the At Home Pre-School Bootcamp series!  I hope you had fun at the library and exploring writing with your child last week.  This week we are going to use the information we gained last week as we enjoy some painting, investigate counting, and get started in a crucial daily habit.  Let's get started!

Activities to do just once with your child.  

Pull out those supplies, it's time to learn with painting! Click here to learn more.  Sound stressful? It did to me too.  You might want to check out my post lower stress painting as well.

Next, click here to get started with numbers.

Finally, Choose one age appropriate structured activity to make a regular part of your child's schedule.  She may already participate in a pre-school, Sunday school or library program.  Those all count!   If she doesn't, try out a class of some sort, and consider making it part of your weekly routine.

Want more? Repeat the starting point writing activity we did last week, or make another trip to the library.

Daily habit

This week, make it a goal to read to your child every day.  If you spend most of the day away from your child, you might alternate reading days with play days. If you are a full time at home parent, try to work in both.  

If you spend most of the day away from your child, a good goal is to read one book, or one chapter to your child each day. 

If you are the full time educator of your pre-schooler, you need to do more.  Enjoyment of books is the number one factor in developing a strong reader according to many experts, so you want to make this priority.  Let your child pick a book for you to read to them, then you pick a book.   Then let your child pick another book.  Keep this up for  as long as your child will stay with it.  Try to allow at least an hour if he wants to listen that long.  Don't worry if reading time is very short when you begin.  Keep at it, and his attention span will grow.

Looking ahead

In preparation for next week, have an alphabet set on hand. This could be an alphabet book (check out Jerry Pallotta's Work!), a set of Alphabet Flash Cards , or magnetic letters.  

Also, get some Elmer's Washable No-Run School Glue, 4 oz, 1 Bottle (E304) , a pair of scissors (I recommend these,) and a stack of SunWorks Smart-Stack Construction Paper, 9 x 12 Inches, 11 Colors, 300 Count (6525) .  Put it all in a box next to your painting box, so it will be easy to grab.  Again, I am providing links to buy everything on-line for your convenience, but you will often find things cheaper if you buy locally.

Enriching your home learning environment 

Look around at the walls of your child's bedroom and play area.  Is there any art? If not, work on finding some.  I picked up one of our favorite paintings for $6 at a yard sale.  You could also buy a favorite print on-line.

Mommy mentor

This week I have another lovely blogger to introduce to you. Jean Van't Hul is a published author who blogs about the projects she does with her own kids at The Artful Parent. My Pinterest boards are full of them!    The main thing I have learned from reading the Artful Parent is that art is taught by giving children a medium and setting them free. Any of us can do that! 

That's all for this week, I'll be back in about two weeks with week 3!  



Other Posts in this Series:
Learning by Painting
Get Your Child Started With Counting

At Home Pre-School Boot Camp:  Week 1 Summary
Introducing At Home Pre-School Boot Camp with a Simple Kindergarten Readiness Checklist



This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  Click here for more information.   Thanks for your support!  The post, At Home Pre-School Boot Camp: Week 2 Summary, by Christy McGuire originally appeared on WisdomKnowledgeJoy@blogspot.com.

Learning by Painting

Painting is an incredibly fun and beneficial activity.  My kids are happy to paint at least once a week, and I bet yours will be too.  Of course, we do not paint that much, but it is fun to dream!

Here's how to do it!

I am assuming that you have the materials listed in the At Home Pre-school Boot Camp: Week 1 Summary (Click here to go to that post).


 Put the newspaper on the table and prepare a spot to receive the wet treasures you are about to create. Put the t-shirt on your child(ren) and use the clothespin to tighten the neck a bit.  Each child gets a tray and whole stack of brushes.  Check out my post on lower stress painting if you are wondering why.

Writing Practice

Give each child a dab of paint, some experts say yellow, but I wouldn't be too concerned on this point.  Show them how to use the brush on their paper, let them try for a few minutes.  Next, get your own paper and show them how to paint their name,or if they have already mastered correct strokes for their name, a word that includes letters they have not mastered.   Coach them to try. If they don't do it perfectly, show them again and have them try it just once more.  Never scold for these mistakes. 

Art

Now it is free paint time, when the magic of art begins. Sit down and paint with them until they are bored.  Be prepared to dole out more papers and more paint. Some kids will switch to finger painting, which is great sensory stimulation and developmentally priceless.

Congratulations!  You have just done an activity that benefits your children's writing by reinforcing correct strokes and pencil grip.  You have given needed sensory play, and encouraged scientific exploration, and fostered self expression.

If you would like to throw in a little more science, check out this post.  Otherwise, banish the kids to another room, and clean up.  

Painting is an activity that becomes easier for the parent and more fun for every one each time you do it!

This post is part of the free hand preschool series.  Click here to start from the beginning and see what this series is all about.

Click Here to return to the Week 2 Summary.

Get your child started with counting!

Ordering the world through numbers is an important skill.  Any time you want to teach something, you have to know exactly what your student already knows. In the case of counting, this is super easy.  

If you have been following along with the at home pre-school boot camp, you established a daily play time with your child last week.  One day during your play time, grab a set of toys such as blocks.  Say, "I've got a question for you,  How my blocks is this?"  Plop down a set of blocks that you know your child can count. It is extremely important that their first attempt is successful, even if they only count to one. Next, ask for an amount that is maybe two blocks more. Repeat until you find an amount that he is  unsure of.   Mark this number in your mind.   

Say, "Watch me."  Very purposefully point to each block and number it out loud.

Next, pretend to place blocks and ask, "How many?" while pointing to the empty space.  Treat this as a joke, but make a mental note of whether he knows the number zero.  

Remember the number he didn't know, and whether he knew zero, and spend at least a few more minutes connecting through play.  

You can repeat this activity about once a week.  Development will tend to go in spurts.  For several weeks it may seem he is not getting any where .  Then, he will suddenly progress by several numbers or beg you to count over and over.  

Watching your own child progress as a learner under his own power is a thrill you will always treasure!



Click here to return to the At Home Pre-School Boot Camp: Week 2 Summary

Coquinas: Beautiful Diggers

Sunset over the Gulf of Mexico last week was beautiful.  The beach was re-nourished this year, so it is not quite as pretty, but it is still alive!

We had a great time just watching these little guys bury themselves in the sand. Daddy is the local, so he explained what we were seeing.

Coquinas are a type of clam that live right on the edge of ocean where the tide comes and goes. The water uncovers them as it recedes, and they bury themselves until the next wave brings them their next meal, and in turn retreats.

The shells are beautiful, and even as an adult I could watch them burrow all day.   It is amazing that these little creatures move so fast! I found a picture that shows how they use a muscular foot to bury themselves. Click here and scroll down to the "foot" heading to see it.

The Gulf was in the news a few years ago because of an environmental disaster. A question on many people's mind is how to teach others to respect the lives of creatures like the Coquina. I think that observing first hand is a key part of the answer.

What has fascinated your family this summer?

At Home Pre-School Boot Camp: Week 1 Summary

Welcome to week one of At Home Pre-school Boot Camp! This series is going to be a lot of fun, and cover some things that are really precious to me as a mom and as a teacher.  Let's jump right in!

Activities with your pre-schooler to do just once this week

 Take a trip to the library!  Click here to learn how to make the most of your initial trip to the library.

Get started with writing and fine motor.  Click here to find out how.

Daily challenge

Sit down and play with your child for 15 minutes on at least three different days.  Try to really get on his level.  Can you make this part of your schedule?

Enrich your home environment

Does your child have puzzles readily available?  If not, choose one puzzle that she would enjoy, and put it on a shelf where it is easily reached.  Maybe do it together during your daily play time.   Click here to read about a trick I learned for puzzle storage.

Looking ahead

Put together your paint box.  The cheapest way to get these supplies is to buy locally, but I will give you links in case that is helpful.  (These are Amazon affiliate links.) Don't worry, not all of the lists will be this long!

Adult T-shrits (Fruit of the Loom Men's 4 Pack Pocket T-Shirt, Assortment)

Clothes pins (Honey-Can-Do DRY-01375 Wood Clothespins with Spring, 50-Pack, 4.75x5)

Package of brushes and plastic tray (Darice 11-Piece Painting Set with Brush Assortment and Palette)

Newspaper or similarly sized large paper (ALEX® Toys Artist Studio Paper Roll White Drawing Paper)

Package of white paper, such as computer printer paper or craft paper (GP Spectrum Multi-Use Paper, 8.5 x 11 Inches, 3-Ream Pack )

Bottles of washable (tempera) paint.(Prang Ready-to-Use Tempera Paint, 16-Oz., 12-Pack of Assorted Color)  I recommend red, blue, yellow, white and black to start

If paint is hard to find, or you want a special project, You can click here to read how to make your own--a great list of recipes from Kids Activity Blog.
A box that can hold all of the above. (Just save your Amazon Box!)

Friend to Follow

I have never actually met Mary Anne from Mama Smiles, but after following her blog, I feel like she must be friend material.  I have found several great activities on her blog, but the thing I most admire is the way she delights in doing life with her kids.  The positive attitude is contagiously lovely.  Click here to check out her blog and catch a smile for your kids.

That's it for this week!  Be sure to check in next Monday for week 2, and if you know another parent of a parent of a pre-schooler who might find this series useful, please share it with them!  If you missed the introduction, click here to read what this At Home Pre-School Boot Camp Series is all about.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  Click here for more information.   Thanks for your support!  The post, At Home Pre-School Boot Camp: Week 1 Summary, by Christy McGuire originally appeared on WisdomKnowledgeJoy@blogspot.com.

                

Starting Point activity for handwriting

To do this activity, you will need a piece of paper and a writing implement.  Crayola Colored Pencils are my favorite, but anything will do. You may also want a cheat sheet of correct strokes for forming each letter.  Our school district distributes an official guide. Click here to view the free letter formation guides from schoolsparks.com .   

With Your Child

Sit down with your child and cheerfully explain that you are going to write his name.  Write just his first name using correct grip and strokes.  Invite your child to try it.  When he is finished , say "Good job!" The only time you won't say "good job" is if he refuses, in which case say, "Another day," and put the paper away.

At this point note two things. 

Did my child hold the pencil with a correct grip? Yes or No.

Did my child use correct strokes for each of the letters? Yes or No.

If both answers are no, you may demonstrate to your child what a correct grip looks like one time.  Then sit and draw with him while interest and time last.  No instruction, just have fun together.

If your child has a correct grip, but uses incorrect strokes, you may demonstrate one letter and ask him to try it.  Make it a big deal if he copies you correctly, then have some fun drawing together.

If your child uses correct strokes and seems interested show him more letters and ask him to copy them.   Continue while his interest lasts, then have some fun drawing together.   Repeat as many days as needed until you find a letter or two that needs work or confirm that he can do them all.

What's next?  

Poor pencil grip is a result of weak muscles, not lack of understanding.  If your child needs exercise in this area, there are a ton of fun ways to work out the muscles without using a pencil.   Concentrate on those for now, and just pullout the pencil every week or two.  The activities you need are usually labeled "fine motor" and should exercise the pincher muscles. Click here to see some that we have done.  Meanwhile your child can begin learning strokes simply by tracing them with his finger.

If your child has a good grip, he will probably enjoy pencil based activities, so enjoy them and work on learning strokes.



Click here to learn How I first learned about fine motor practice

From the Anonymous OT, What does good grasp look like?  (They changed the rules since we were in school!)

My personal Fine Motor/Handwriting Pinterest Board

KBN Fine motor Pinterest board

              


This post is part of the At Home Pre-School Bootcamp.  Click here to return to the week one summary.  Click here to start at the beginning.


This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  Click here for more information.   Thanks for your support!  The post, Starting Point activity for handwriting, by Christy McGuire originally appeared on WisdomKnowledgeJoy@blogspot.com.

How Parents of Pre-schoolers get the most from their Free Public Libraries

If you live in the United States, it is almost guaranteed that you have a fantastic public library close by.  We have lived in towns and cities in six different states from Florida to Washington.  In every case, we were able access top rate children's programming and a unique selection of books that enriched our experience.

Here are some hints that will help you make the most of your local library.

1. Plan to get a library card if you do not have one. Typically you will need your drivers license (or identification) and proof of residency.  This information is usually available via a web-site, and some one will always be happy to help you via the phone.

2. Bring a bag to carry your books home.

3. Pick up a schedule of children's programs.  Occasionally this is available on the web, but I have found that the  most accurate information is usually found on a hard copy, even in the 2010's.  Ask if you don't see it, you will almost always get an enthusiastic response.

4.  Find the children's area, the juvenile non-fiction area, and where the alphabet books and math books are.  Pull one book from each area. Librarians live to help you find good books, so do ask them.  

5.  Sit down near the picture books and encourage your child to choose one.  Read it to her.  If she is interested, read her a second, third, whatever you have time for.  When it is time to go, let her choose two books to bring home.  Check out the ones you pulled, and hers.

You may want to skim the book quickly for appropriateness before reading.  Sometimes I close a book in the middle if I don't think it is healthy for our minds.  I think this sets an example of being aware of how our environment effects us. I also sometimes give more limited choices as to which books come home.

6. Check out all your selections, and make a note of the due date on your phone or in your planner.  

We will talk more about using books with your pre-schooler next week. 

If your kids are like mine, they will be excited about their finds. Enjoy!

Click here to see some of the great reads we have found at our local library.

This series is part of my At Home Pre-school Boot Camp. Click here to start at the beginning.

Click here to return to the Week 1 Summary Post.

The post Getting started at your library, by Christy McGuire, first appeared on WisdomKnowledgeJoy@blogspot.com.

Submarines and Pitch Training with Bubble Wrap

The activity in this post was used with pre-schoolers, but could be used to address this Next Generation Science Standards Objective.

1-PS4-1.	Plan and conduct investigations to provide evidence that vibrating materials can make sound and that sound can make materials vibrate.

This month's challenge from Project Recycle and Create was a tough one for me.  I finally just gave up and put the box of bubble wrap Daddy had collected at work in the middle of the room.   For a couple of days it looked like our bubble wrap project would consist of pinching it with our fingers.  Not creative, but we can always use a little more fine motor practice, right?

Then T- Rex started using a craft stick as a tool and suggested that we could make a submarine, since it would not float as well after the bubbles popped. Clever, yes?

Then the Pony Artist said, "Hey Mommy, listen to this!"  And started happily snapping some bubbles.  As I listened, I realized that the bubbles had a different pitch than the ones T-Rex was popping.  

I invited her to come over to the piano, and we worked on popping bubbles of different sizes and matching them to pitch of the piano keys.  Bigger bubbles make lower sounds. Smaller bubbles make higher sounds. 

 Pony Artist figured it out, but she and T-Rex most enjoyed the rhythm aspect of this activity and treated Baby Sister and I to a concert.

Following my children's lead can take me some pretty fun places!

Click here to go to the landing page for this project and see the host projects.

Have your own Buble Wrap idea or experience? Link up! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Multiplication and Exponent Craft for Tweens

So far, most of the projects you see on this blog are for kindergarten and younger, because those are the ages found at my house.  Recently, I was given an invitation to put together some learning projects for a couple of middle school girls.  How fun!

They want princess projects, so I suggested stain glass castle windows, done in fractal patterns.  I was so excited when I received these pictures of the work they did!  I thought you would like to see them too.

To make a fractal pattern, choose a shape and repeat it systematically.  In the example above, she chose squares and put a smaller square on each corner.  Then, she put more squares on the corners of those squares.

Doing fractals inspires mathematical thinking on many levels.  In this case, I was hoping to reinforce the students ' sense of multiplication as they think through how many shapes are needed for the next level. "If I have four squares with four corners, I will need 4x4 more squares."  Count the shapes above to find the answer to "4x4=?"

 Since this is practice in repeatedly multiplying by the same number, it also gives a nice introduction to exponential powers.  Exponential powers are expressed with a "^" .  In the example below, we see a three cornered object repeated four times.  In math terms 3^4, or three to the fourth power.  Count the triangles to find the answer to 3^4=?    My son says this one looks like castles.

My inspiration for the "stain glass" came from Jean Van't Hul at The Artful Parent.  Click here to read how to do it.

I got excited about fractals while taking an on-line class at Moebius Noodles, Math Adventures. The class is over, but I found the class so useful I also downloaded Moebius Noodles: Adventurous Math for the Playground Crowd to our Kindle.  You may want to check it out.

What projects have made you excited recently?

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  Click here for more information.   Thanks for your support!  The post, Multiplication and exponent Craft for Tweens, originally appeared on WisdomKnowledgeJoy@blogspot.com.  

Swinging Baby Catch and Inertia

We have a new favorite game.  Baby catch!  Baby sister sits in her swing and T -Rex and the Pony Artist push her back and forth to each other.  It is so sweet!

I asked T -Rex to tell me what force pulls the swing back down.  He knew it is gravity.  Then I asked, "Why does the swing keep going at the bottom of its path, and start moving up?" He was puzzled.

I told him that it is because the swing is already moving. If something is moving, it will keep moving until something stops it. He smiled. 

I asked him again just now if he knew why the swing keeps going.  He answered , "Because it was already moving." Yay!

  Newton's First Force Law says that a thing will keep moving at the same speed and in the same direction, unless something stops it.  This tendency to keep doing the same is called inertia.

Centrifugal (center fleeing) motion is sometimes credited to a force with the same name.  You are not likely to see such a force, and if you did, it would have another name.  The movement away from center is due to inertia.

 The vast majority of circular systems  depend on a centripetal (center seeking) force, in this case the rope, and inertia. 

Here is a challenge for you.  Find some circular motion examples and figure out what the centripetal (center seeking ) force is.

I would Love to hear what you find!

The goal of this Science Along the Way series to help me, my kids, and my readers take notice of the wonder around us every day in the physical world. If you would like to share a phenomenon you have noticed, e-mail me at WisdomKnowledgeJoy@gmail.com.

The post, Swinging Baby Catch and Inertia, first appeared on WisdomKnowledgeJoy@blogspot. com.

How to Plan a Road Trip your Kids will Love: Tip 3

 

Kids love routine in every context.  I knew we had really gotten comfortable with our traveling routine the night that we walked into our hotel room, and my three-year-old headed straight for the bathroom, undressed, and hopped in the tub.  Here are a few hints on how to establish a routine while on the move.

Pack by activity

Since  our children are too young to take responsibility for their things, my husband suggested this system. It works so well!

We have one overnight bag with all of our toiletries and pajamas.  We pack clothes by outfit in Ziploc storage bags, in the suitcases.  Each evening, when we pull over to sleep, we each choose one outfit for the next day and put it in the toiletry bag.  The overnight bag and electronics bag are the only ones that need to come in, unless we also grab the swim bag!  Giving the children control of what they wear and eat helps them feel more settled in the craziness of traveling. 

In the morning, dirty clothes go back in the clothing bag. The laundry bags stay in the vehicle unless we are washing the laundry.  Then it is taken to the laundry room, and everything repacked in the ziploc bags. Each child has their suitcase with just a jacket, stuffed animal, favorite book.  Well, occasionally other items mysteriously appear.  All electronics go in one bag, though.  That makes it easy to be sure everything is charged over night, out of the heat and not luring thieves to break our windows. We also have a bag just for car activities, a bag for food that I can reach, and often a second store of food and water in the back.  This system saves my husband and I stress, allowing everyone to have a better time. 

Rest Stop Routine

Whenever we pull over, every one is mandated to use the toilet.  Then, we spend a few minutes exploring or playing tag.  Either my husband or I quickly discards trash and organizes snack, drinks, and activities so we will be comfortable on the next leg of our trip.

Organizing the Day

What works well depends both on how much ground you need to cover, and how old the children are.  We have found that our pre-schoolers do best when we wake them about fifteen minutes before pulling out and eat breakfast in the car.  They love those bagels!  If we have a long day of travel, we hold off on electronics until thirty minutes before our lunch stop.  On short days, we can splurge. We try to make lunch a long stop somewhere that the kids can really be active, like a park or restaurant with a play area.  After lunch, it's another hour with out electronics.  Usually they fall asleep.  When they wake up, snacks and electronics flow freely, until we pull in for the night.

Make it an Adventure, Make Car Time a Treat, and Establish Your Routine.  Those are my ideas for planning a great road trip.  What are you doing to make your next road trip special?

Related posts:
How to Plan a Road Trip your Kids will Love: Tip 1
How to Plan a Road Trip your Kids will Love: Tip 2

Pinterest boards
Traveling with Kids, organized by the Measured Mom
My personal Road Trip board

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  Click here for more information.   Thanks for your support!  The post,  Planning a Fun, Educational Family Road Trip: Establish Routine by Christy McGuire originally appeared on WisdomKnowledgeJoy@blogspot.com.

How to Plan a Road Trip your Kids will Love: Tip 2

When it's time to hit the road, my kids are excited to strap themselves in.  It might be weird, but it has been a huge benefit as our family has needed to cover some serious miles over the past few years.   Last week, I shared tip one, make road trips into an adventure. My second piece of road trip advice is this, Make car time a treat. Here is how we do it.

New books

I ordered a few new books for this summer's road trip. Over the past few years,  I have made a habit of buying a children's book about each state we visit. It has been a fun way to appreciate and remember where we have been.  The State Shape Books are great and so are these state alphabet books .

New Car activities

Magnet board activities work well in the car.  At Christmas, a friend recommended doing a nativity from Made by Joel.  I colored and laminated it, and both kids really enjoyed it.

You can also plan simple crafts.  Last year we did this shamrock from Roots of Simplicity while traveling on St. Patrick's day.

I am working on prepping a few new activities for this summer's trip.  I will share as I finish.

Of course, extra screen time is a major reason for my children's love of road trips as well.  I Game Mom is the go to site for great Apps for kids, and we have our own stash of favorite videos.

Snacks and water

Although vacation is the time to splurge, too much extra sugar or red dye still makes us feel bad.  We carry reusable water bottles, and a stash of nuts, crackers, dried and fresh fruit.  My children look forward to these "car foods", and we make better meal choices along the way, because we can afford to eat earlier or to wait for a better choice.

If you are looking for more great car trip ideas check put this Pinterest board organized by Anna at The Measured Mom.  My personal road trip ideas are here.

Related Posts:
How to Plan a Road Trip your Kids will Love: Tip 1


This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  Click here for more information.   Thanks for your support!  The post, Planning A Fun Educational Family Road Trip:Make Car Time a Treat, by Christy McGuire originally appeared on WisdomKnowledgeJoy@blogspot.com.

Thunder and Lightning must be Friends

We have been enjoying alot of weather here in the south east US this week.  We were just ready to leave the library on Thursday when the wind picked up and the lights went out.  We spent an hour getting to know some new friends better in the dark while we waited for things to calm down.  

Tonight, things were rumbling again.  As I was tucking him in, T-Rex asked, "So Mom, what is thunder anyway?"   I told him that thunder is energy.  The energy moves through the air, making waves and causing them to rumble.  Our ears receive that chaos as the sound "thunder."

  Energy is the most basic thing in the natural world.   So, I push myself to explain things to my children in terms of energy.  (This is actually debatable, but enough people with Phd.'s agree with me that I am going to go ahead and just make it a statement.) If you want to go a little deeper, you might think about the fact that lightening happens because electrons build up in the clouds during storms.  When the charge gets strong enough, the electrons jump to the ground. This jump releases a huge amount of energy.  Some of it is light, or "lightning".  Some of the energy physically moves out through the air.  That is thunder.

A little later, Pony Artist was out of bed, (That happens on stormy nights, right?)  As she headed back to her room, she turned to me and said, "I think thunder and lightening must be friends."

  All children are natural scientists.  What have yours been observing lately?

Simple KindergartenReadiness Checklist and the At Home Pre-School Boot camp

One day, I was talking with a friend of mine.   She told me that she was thinking of buying a pre-school curriculum to use with her son.  I quickly pointed her to a few of my favorite free on-line resources, and followed up by sending the links.  When we talked again, I was slightly horrified to hear that she had not found my suggestions helpful, and in fact, had bought a curriculum. "You are a teacher.  I am not." was her explanation.  We talked about it some more, and she convinced me that although I don't have any special training in early child hood, my background as a teacher does make accessing on-line resources written by the professionals easier.  The result of that conversation was an At Home, Pre-school Boot Camp.

Here are the six areas of growth that I try to promote in my own pre-schoolers.

Independence

Can he take care of himself?  At the kindergarten level this is about things like using the bathroom and eating lunch out of a lunch box without help.

Social interaction

Can he play well with his peers? Kindergartners are expected to be able to communicate verbally with one another and resolve minor altercations.

Function within my culture's social structure

Can she behave well in a formal situation? If she is a  North American, can she to sit and listen, raise her hand, and line up?

Language

Can she understand, be understood?  Kindergartners are expected to enjoy listening to stories of some length, follow instructions and know their alphabet.

Math

Is he organizing his world by patterns?  A well prepared kindergartner can count to ten and name shapes and colors, and work puzzles.

Writing

Can she use a pencil? At the beginning of kindergarten, the teacher will expect her to be able to write her name and copy letters.


This is a highly simplified list.  If you want a more detailed list of what children should know at the beginning of kindergarten, check out School Sparks by Renee Abronowitz or this list from the Measured Mom.

If you are working on these areas and your child is not making progress, I recommend consulting with your local school district or another trusted expert.  Some times children need special help, and getting it early is best.

 If you would like to work on these areas with your child,  and could use some hints to get started, my upcoming At Home, Pre-school Bootcamp series is for you!  

Pre-school should be a dynamic learning experience.  Whether your child attends a formal program, or spends all day with you, the At Home Pre-school Bootcamp will help you set up the activities needed to help help your child develop at home.  Each week, I will post a summary of activities that help you begin to cover the major areas that should be addressed with every child, with links to easy to follow instructions, and introductions to some of my favorite on-line experts. It's free, you'll only have to pay for your materials.  I have written your shopping list, which you can directly order from Amazon (Click here to Sign up for Amazon Prime and get free shipping), or use to find great deals around town.  Best of all, you will have fun connecting with your child while preparing him not only for kindergarten, but for life. 

If you have a resource that I should check out, leave it in the comments. I am always looking for great ideas for my own littles, and may share it as well.  Double check that you have some plain old paper and a pencil on hand and make sure that you are following this blog either by e-mail or in your reader. The first set of posts is coming Monday!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  Click here for more information.   Thanks for your support!  The post,  At Home Pre-school Bootcamp originally appeared on WisdomKnowledgeJoy@blogspot.com.