Summertime presents us with unique opportunities to guide our children’s learning and prepare for kindergarten. We all know that our children need to have specific skills in time for kindergarten. They should be counting to at least 10, beginning to write, and of course should follow directions. So, how can we ensure they are really ready?
Great news! As a former teacher, who has worked with young children for over 30 years, I can tell you that what teachers really want is a child that comes in ready to learn! A child who knows their letters but can’t get along with others will struggle more than one who is able to work well with other children but needs to learn ABC’s.
Summer is perfect for working on these skills. This is the time to phone a friend and get outside! Whether you are meeting at the pool or at the park, there will be many opportunities to show your child how to share, how to compromise, and how to lose! We can use typical preschool interactions as ways to help our little ones learn how to navigate friendships. We are not born knowing how to negotiate. We learn this from our parents, siblings, and caregivers. Children are learning how to negotiate from us whether we realize they are watching or not.
- Model positive interactions. With your spouse or partner, with the cashier, or in traffic…how you react and respond will guide your children’s temperament in similar situations.
- Don’t always take your child’s side. It is not always easy, but our child is not always in the right! Make sure you have both sides before you help negotiate a peace treaty between children. We do our children a disservice when we don’t investigate the situation for all of the details. If your child is in the wrong, it is a great time to show them how to be gracious in an argument.
- Give opportunities for difficult interactions. Sometimes, planning a play date with a child that is more challenging will give your child an opportunity to learn how to work with someone that is different from them.
- Enrolling your child in day camps in the summer. Extracurricular activities are a fantastic way to help build these social skills before kindergarten. Many parks’ programs have scholarship opportunities for those who qualify.
- Take every opportunity to get your child to socialize before kindergarten. Your teacher will thank you for it!
About the author: Jodi McGhee is currently the Early Childhood Program Coordinator for Carle Health Initiatives. She has worked in Early Learning since 1990. She has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education Leadership and a Bachelors from Eastern Illinois University.
