The purpose of kindergarten readiness is to prepare children to participate successfully in a learning community apart from his or her parents. While there is no single factor which determines kindergarten readiness, parents and educators can look for several key signs of kindergarten readiness with respect to language and writing.
Language
Children who are ready for kindergarten should be able to talk in complete sentences. Stacey Kannenberg, co-author of the award winning books Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten! and Let's Get Ready for First Grade adds thatthey should be able to hold a conversation with an adult, answering in more than just a yes or no response.
When children are ready for kindergarten, their use of language should include the words they need to follow directions, says Kirstin Parsons of Get Set for SchoolTM , a new curriculum focused on helping preschool children prepare for kindergarten. “These words include top, middle, bottom, directional words such as over and under, and size and color descriptions, as well as instructional words such as start, stop and my turn, your turn,” says Parsons.
As well, at the time of kindergarten entry, children should use language to interact in play and to express needs, according to Dr. Gloria Rothenberg, clinical psychologist and school psychologist at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Kindergarten Center in New York.
Kindergarten-ready children should be able to be able to repeat a sentence spoken by another, report their name on demand, label simple items in pictures and books, and name items in simple categories such as colors, animals, foods, drinks, toys, clothes, body parts.
Reading
Neither reading nor writing is expected upon entrance to kindergarten. “Concepts of print, such as how to hold and turn the pages of a book, that the pictures are related to the story, and being able to listen to a story book are adequate,” says Dr. Rothenberg.
Writing
Many children between the ages of three and five are not developmentally ready to write with a pencil, but should be able to hold a crayon and identify numbers and letters. Kindergarten-ready children should know the fundamentals of handwriting. “They should also understand the “tricks” of handwriting such as the fact that all capitals are formed by starting at the top of the letter, and know how each letter is formed,” says Parsons.
Knowledge of pre-writing concepts such as top, middle, bottom, up, down, straight lines, curved lines, or loopy lines are very useful. Children should also know the letters in their name and attempt to write them.
The willingness to try writing and drawing activities is more important than the ability to produce an accurate product at this age, says Dr. Rothenberg.
For more information about kindergarten readiness, see Signs of Kindergarten Readiness.
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