The countdown is on! Kindergarten begins in August, and that’s plenty of time for you and your child to prepare. Make the most of your summer with these weekly activities and advice from local experts.
10 Weeks
Schedule doctor’s visits & immunizations
Starting kindergarten is an exciting milestone, and making sure your child is up to date on their well child visit, vision and hearing screenings, and immunizations is an important part of preparing for a successful start. These appointments help identify any health, developmental, vision, or hearing concerns that could affect a child’s ability to learn, communicate, and participate in the classroom. Scheduling these visits before the busy back to school season also gives families time to complete any required paperwork and address concerns before the first day of school.
Preventive healthcare visits and immunizations help keep children healthy, safe, and ready to learn. Well child visits allow healthcare providers to monitor growth and development, answer questions, and provide guidance on nutrition, sleep, behavior, and overall wellness. Vision and hearing screenings help ensure children can see the board, hear instructions, and fully engage in learning activities. Staying up to date on recommended immunizations protects children from serious illnesses and helps prevent the spread of disease within schools and the community. By scheduling these appointments early, families can help their children begin kindergarten healthy, confident, and ready to learn!
To find community resources on dental services, hearing and vision screenings, and immunizations, visit the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s websites:
9 Weeks
Practice writing full names using capital letters and lowercase letters
Starting kindergarten is an exciting milestone! One of the first skills children learn in school is how to write their full name. Practicing at home can help children feel confident and prepared for their first day.
Why Practice Writing a Full Name?
Writing a full name helps children:
- Recognize the letters in their name
- Develop fine motor and handwriting skills
- Learn the difference between capital and lowercase letters
- Build confidence and independence
Teachers often ask students to write their names on papers, artwork, and classroom activities, so knowing how to write a full name is a great kindergarten readiness skill.
Using Capital and Lowercase Letters
A name should begin with a capital letter, followed by lowercase letters.
For example:
- Emma Johnson
- Liam Smith
- Ava Garcia
Fun Ways to Practice at Home
Trace and Write
Write your child’s name with a highlighter and have them trace over the letters. As they gain confidence, encourage them to write the name independently.
Use Different Materials
Practice writing names with:
- Crayons
- Markers
- Sidewalk chalk
- Finger paint
- Play dough letters
Make It a Game
Have your child find the capital letter that starts their name and match it to the lowercase letters that follow.
Practice a Little Each Day
Just a few minutes of name-writing practice each day can make a big difference. Keep activities fun and positive.
Helpful Tips for Families
- Encourage proper pencil grip.
- Celebrate effort, not perfection.
- Model correct capitalization when writing your child’s name.
- Be patient as your child learns letter formation and spacing.
Ready for Kindergarten!
Learning to write a full name is an important step toward kindergarten success. With regular practice and encouragement, children will build the skills and confidence they need to start the school year ready to learn. We look forward to seeing all of our incoming kindergarten students proudly write their names in the classroom!
8 Weeks
Walk on the Born Learning Trails and explore local parks!
Make Learning an Adventure This Summer on the Born Learning Trails
Looking for a fun, free activity for your family this summer? Visit the United Way Born Learning Trails across Champaign County and turn a simple walk into an exciting learning adventure!
Did you know that 90% of a child’s brain develops by age 5? The early years are filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and explore—and the Born Learning Trail helps make the most of every moment.
This family-friendly outdoor trail features colorful, interactive signs in English and Spanish that encourage children and families to learn through play. Along the way, families can enjoy simple activities that build language, literacy, and social-emotional skills while staying active outdoors.
Following the trail’s theme—Watch! Stop! Learn! Play!—parents and caregivers are encouraged to follow their child’s curiosity, ask questions, and make learning part of everyday fun.
Whether you’re counting, moving, talking, or imagining together, every stop on the trail helps support your child’s development and school readiness.
This summer, get outside, get moving, and discover how play can spark a lifetime of learning. Visit a Born Learning Trail near you and create memories while helping your child grow!
Born Learning Trail Locations
Champaign
- Human Kinetics Park
1501 N. Market St., Champaign
Sponsored by Human Kinetics - Garden Hills Park
1701 Bloomington Rd., Champaign
Sponsored by Champaign Rotary
Urbana
- Urbana Early Childhood School
2202 E. Washington St., Urbana
Sponsored by Champaign County Association of Realtors
Mahomet
- Bridle Leash Park
902 W Dianne Ln., Mahomet
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Mahomet and Mahomet Parks and Recreation
Rantoul
- Wabash Park
520 E. Wabash Ave., Rantoul
Sponsored by Emerging Community Leaders - Chris Rudzinski Park
401 W. Grove Ave., Rantoul
Sponsored by Emerging Community Leaders
St. Joseph
- Kolb Park
205 W. Sherman, St. Joseph
Sponsored by Keller Williams
Savoy
- Dana Colbert Park
203 E. Church St., Savoy
Sponsored by Emerging Community Leaders and the Village of Savoy
7 Weeks
Practice independent skills like zipping and tying shoes
Why Independent Skills Matter
Starting kindergarten is an exciting milestone for children and families. It’s often the first time kids step into a structured school environment, build new routines, and take on more responsibility for their daily needs. One of the best ways to help your child feel confident and ready is by practicing independent self-help skills at home—especially things like zipping jackets, using the bathroom, putting on backpacks, and tying shoes.
These small tasks might seem simple, but they play a big role in building confidence, independence, and readiness for the classroom.
In kindergarten, children are encouraged to take care of many of their own needs. Teachers support students, of course, but there are moments throughout the day when children are expected to try things on their own—getting dressed for recess, managing their belongings, or organizing their materials.
When children already have some practice with these skills, they feel more capable and less frustrated. It also helps the classroom run more smoothly, giving teachers more time to focus on learning activities.
Independent Skills to Practice
Start with Zipping a Jacket
Zipping a jacket is often one of the first independence skills children master. It can take time and practice, so breaking it into steps helps:
- Hold the bottom of the zipper steady
- Insert the zipper piece into the base
- Pull the zipper up slowly while holding the fabric
Let your child try on their own first before stepping in to help. Even partial success builds confidence.
Using the Restroom On Their Own
Practice the full bathroom routine from start to finish so that it becomes automatic.
- Build urgency awareness and practice not waiting until the last second.
- Teach wiping basics clearly – some kids need a lot of repetition
- Make handwashing a non-negotiable habit
- Practice public restroom skills with automatic flushes
- Teach them to tell the teacher if they have an accident
This skill is essential and so important for school.
Open and Close Backpack
Backpacks are a big part of kindergarten life. Practice opening and closing zippers, putting items inside, and wearing the backpack correctly. Encourage your child to:
- Pack and unpack simple items like a folder or snack
- Zip and unzip compartments independently
- Make sure contents in backpack aren’t sticking out
- Put the backpack on and take it off without assistance
The more familiar they are with it, the more comfortable they’ll feel on the first day of school.
Shoes: Velcro First, then Laces
Many kindergarteners start with Velcro shoes, which are great for building independence. If your child will wear tie shoes, practice can begin early and be fun:
- Use rhymes like “the bunny goes around the tree” to guide steps
- Practice on shoes while they’re off their feet
- Celebrate small progress, even if they can only complete part of the process
Tying shoes takes time, and it’s completely normal for children to need ongoing support.
Other Independent Skills
The best learning happens in everyday moments. Build independence skills into your routine:
- Let your child dress themselves in the morning
- Have them brush teeth and brush hair
- Encourage them to pack their own backpack
- Offer extra time so they can try things without rushing
Patience is key. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s practice.
6 Weeks
About the Author
Roleplay school and visit school grounds
Preparing your child for kindergarten doesn’t require endless flashcards; instead, some of the most effective preparation happens through familiarization and play. One of the best ways to ease first-day anxieties is to visit the school grounds together over the summer. Walk or drive the route to the school, play on the playground if it’s open, and attend any scheduled orientations. By exploring the physical space when it’s quiet and pressure-free, your child will associate the school building with fun rather than the unknown, making the environment feel welcoming and safe before the first bell even rings.
Above all, it is vital to remember that practicing social skills is far more important than mastering any academic milestone. While it’s tempting to drill letters and numbers, kindergarten teachers consistently emphasize that social-emotional readiness is the true foundation for school success. A child who knows how to share, cooperate, follow directions, and navigate a group setting is infinitely more prepared for the classroom than one who can count to 100 but struggles with basic social interactions. Academics will naturally follow, but learning how to coexist happily in a community of twenty other children is the most critical hurdle of the transition.
You can easily build these vital social skills at home by roleplaying the school day. Turn your living room into a classroom and take turns playing the roles of “teacher” and “student.” Focus heavily on relational scenarios: rehearse how to introduce themselves to a new classmate, how to ask a peer, “Can I play with you?” and how to gracefully take turns or share a toy. You can also practice structural social skills like raising a hand to speak, sitting patiently on a rug for storytime, and listening to multi-step instructions. Another suggestion is to practice asking for help appropriately and practicing skills like opening lunch containers. By transforming these abstract social expectations into a playful game, you strip away the pressure, giving your child the confidence and emotional toolkit they need to thrive socially from day one.
Learn more
5 Weeks
About the Author
Visit the Library and make reading a part of every day!
Looking for a simple way to support your child’s learning and development?
A trip to your local library is a great place to start! Libraries offer much more than books—they provide opportunities for young children to explore, play, and learn alongside caring adults. Many libraries host story times, music and movement programs, and hands-on activities designed specifically for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. These experiences help build early literacy skills while creating fun memories together.
Making reading part of your daily routine doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Reading just a few minutes each day can help children develop language skills, expand their vocabulary, and strengthen their imagination. Let your child choose books that catch their eye, even if they want to read the same one over and over again! For example, reading a favorite book like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle can spark conversations about colors, animals, and sounds. After reading, try a simple activity such as pretending to move like the animals in the story or looking for animals during a walk outside.
Your local library is a free resource filled with books, programs, and ideas to support your child’s growth. By visiting regularly and making reading a part of everyday life, you’re helping your child build important skills while sharing special moments together. The stories you read today can help create a lifelong love of learning tomorrow.
4 Weeks
Practice answering questions about family members including names, age, etc.
Coming soon!
3 Weeks
Gather school supplies and clothing
Back to school can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Many stores will have school supply lists based on the school itself. Many teachers have specific extra things that they need for the school year.
Here are some resources that will help get the free supplies needed to start kindergarten.
- Champaign Free School Supplies
- Y on the Fly Backpack and School Supply Drive
- Free clothes and school supplies Champaign County
- Annual Back to School Giveaway
- ChambanaMoms.com Back-to-School Series
- Champaign County Clothing Closets
Save the Date
5th Annual Family Back to School Health & Resource Fair
Saturday, July 25, 2026 11am-4pm
201 W Kenyon Rd Champaign
CUPHD parking lot
2 Weeks
Start school bedroom routine to get adjusted to the change.
Coming soon!
1 Week
Change can be overwhelming. Plan extra time for cuddles and encouragement.
Coming soon!
