Everything You Need to Know About Kindergarten Readiness! Read Our Checklist!

Is your child ready for kindergarten? Let’s find out!
 
At Little Angels Preschool in the Ann Arbor area we know how to identify when a child is ready to move on from preschool. Typically their fine motor skills, gross motor skills, social skills, and academic skills are vastly improved compared to when they were toddlers.
 
According to Scholastic, here’s what you should look in your child to know when their ready to start kindergarten:

1. Enthusiasm toward learning
Do they ask questions? Do they take initiative?

2. Solid oral-language skills
Can your child retain new words and use them in a conversation?

3. Ability to listen
Can your child follow directions? Can your child understand rhyming words or finish sentences to familiar stories?

4. Desire to be independent
Can your child hang up his or her coat? Fasten or unfasten buttons? Eat neatly and pour into a cup?


5. Ability to play well with others
Does your child share with other children? Can your child problem solve when a problem occurs?

6. Strong fine motor skills
Can your child color, cut with scissors, or hold a pencil?

7. Basic letter and number recognition
Can your child recognize most numbers and letters by sight?

After reading through this list of kindergarten readiness items, do you feel your child is ready for this next important step in their education? If you don’t think they’re ready, it’s important to take time after school to help practice some of these special developmental skills. You should also consult with your child’s teacher or the director of their preschool to ensure their readiness.

Little Angels Preschool in the Ann Arbor area has been serving Ypsilanti, Saline, Milan, Pittsfield Township, and the surrounding areas for more than 20 years. Your child will gain positive self-esteem, confidence and a healthy sense of value through Experienced-Based-Learning at our daycare center. Call (734) 998-0233 to schedule a tour!

Achieving Kindergarten Readiness Milestones in Preschool

Kindergarten can be an exciting time for children and parents, but it can also be scary. Knowing if your child is ready to learn in a new environment can be tricky, and knowing what to look for is sometimes difficult.

During this important time, it’s likely you have a lot of questions.

“How do I know if my child is ready for kindergarten?”

“What should I be doing to make sure they’re learning at home?”

“What skills does he/she need to be successful?”

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, or have more concerns about kindergarten readiness, your Ypsilanti preschool teachers and daycare professionals want to help!  

Here are several areas that Pre-K students, parents, and teachers should be focusing on, according to Ann Barbour, a professor of childhood education at California State University, Los Angeles:

Self-Care

By the time kindergarten starts, your child should be able to get dressed by themselves, and know basic self-help skills like using writing utensils, etc.

Using Language to Express Needs and Wants

It’s important for your child to be able to talk with adults and other children. They should also be able to play well with their classmates, so make sure to talk with them about sharing and making friends. 

Shape, Color and Letter Recognition

Your child should be able to write basic letters, especially the letters in their own name. Shapes and colors are important and easy to work on at home. Alphabet magnets are a great way to teach your child basic spelling, and using food dye and cookie cutters can be a fun way to learn both shapes and colors.

Eagerness to Learn

Showing curiosity and a willingness to learn new things is an important development for young children. Teaching your kids that learning can be fun instead of scary will help them

Most kindergarten readiness skills are already being taught in preschool or daycare, but your child can benefit from continuing to learn at home. The more you can do to prepare for kindergarten, the less scary it will be for the both of you.

According to Barbour, “you can also help your child prepare for the actual transition to kindergarten by talking about what will happen.” Much of the preparation is about making sure that your child is comfortable and happy.

Kindergarten readiness involves both you and your child, and your Ypsilanti preschool professional can help! Make sure to find out what your Pre-K teachers have planned for your child, and find out what you can do to make their learning experience as beneficial as possible.

7 Tricks to Master Toilet Training!

Are you struggling to potty train your child? 

Is your child having a hard time grasping the concept of going to the bathroom?

Are you worried your child may fall behind in development?

Don’t worry! In time, your child will conform when they’re ready. Often, parents worry too much because they want their child to be considered normal. What is normal exactly? Everyone is different and progresses at their own pace, so give your child a chance!

We have compiled a list of tricks to master toilet training. We hope you see successes after using these tricks at home, including:

1. Schedule potty breaks.
2. Help your child notice the signs such as squirming, squatting or holding themselves.
3. Consider bribes.
4. Throw away the diapers!
5. Know when to take a break if your child isn’t getting the hang of it.
6. Praise your child when they do it right.
7. Avoid shaming your child when accidents happen. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, “occasional accidents are harmless, but they can lead to teasing, embarrassment and alienation from peers. If your potty-trained child reverts or loses ground — especially at age 4 or older — or you're concerned about your child's accidents, contact his or her doctor. Sometimes wetting problems indicate an underlying physical condition, such as a urinary tract infection or an overactive bladder. Prompt treatment can help your child become accident-free.”

If you decide to try some of these things with your child, we’d like to know how it works for you. In addition, are there any other alternatives that already work for you that you’d like to suggest to other parents? Please let us know in the comments! At Little Angels Daycare in Ypsilanti serving Saline, we’re dedicated to our students’ health and well-being.

Do you know of a parent looking for a quality daycare in Ypsilanti, Saline or the surrounding areas? Please encourage them to contact us to schedule a tour of Little Angels Preschool & Daycare.