How You Can Support Your Kindergartener! More Important Than You Think......

Kindergarten is an exciting time for everyone – little kids are entering the big kid school world while parents are having their first taste of freedom. However, even kindergarteners need support to keep them engaged as they begin their educational lives.

Here are some tips that can help you support your kindergartener to ensure a successful future.

1)   Meet their teacher and learn about classroom procedures. Also, find out what they are learning in class as well as future assignments so that you can do things at home to reinforce what they are learning at school.

2)   Find out early if your child is struggling in Kindergarten compared to the rest of the class so that you can get them extra tutoring to make sure they can keep up with the class.  Self-esteem at this age is very important and delicate.

3)   Establish habits and patterns such as reading a book at night or doing homework for 30 min after school at a specific time and place so students learn good routines and study habits at a young age.

4)   Make sure they know that homework/reading/discussion time isn’t something “extra” that they have to sit through each day but it is part of the learning process at home.

5)   Try to keep a friendly open line of communication with your child’s teacher and with your child so you can find out easily if they are struggling with certain concepts.

6)   Before your child enters kindergarten try to develop oral language, listening skills and social skills as well as fine motor skills (writing and drawing). Read to them and ask them comprehension questions. These are skills that are expected early on in kindergarten.

7)   Nurture your child’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm for learning outside the classroom to show that education is fun, rewarding and exciting. Take them to children’s museums, the Science Center, zoos, aquariums, cultural events and festivals, and classes that interest them (i.e. music, art, etc). Watch educational programs for children.

8)   Teach by example. Try to have a library in the home and make sure your children see you reading.

Finally, encourage your child to take responsibility for his behavior and explore, ask questions and talk about new ideas. This will help improve vocabulary and also build curiosity and determination.

For more educational articles, visit our website at http://www.beachcitiestutoring.com

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