Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?

If your child’s preschool years are coming to an end, your thoughts are probably turning toward kindergarten.  But is your child ready to move on to the “big” school?  What skills do kindergarten teachers expect their new students to have?  To help answer those questions (and ease your mind), I have asked highly regarded kindergarten teachers from local schools to share their insights on helping your child gain the right mix of kindergarten-readiness skills.

The skill sets they are looking for might surprise you.  Because of the national focus on improving education and meeting standards, you might think that it’s most important for children to enter kindergarten knowing their ABCs, numbers, shapes, and colors so they can keep up with the curriculum.  While teachers would love children to come in with some letter and number recognition, they don’t want you to drill your kids on academic skills. There are equally — if not more — important readiness skills that set the stage for your child’s learning.  Raising an eager learner is the goal, and it can be achieved easily through play and day-to-day activities.

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” Kristin Rude is the Owner and Center Director of FasTracKids, Del Mar, established in 2007.  She started teaching Kindergarten in 1992.  Kristin last taught in the Del Mar Union School District.  She obtained her teaching credential from the University of San Diego and has her Masters degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on second language learners.  When Kristin is not working, motherhood keeps her plenty busy with her 2 children, Connor, age 5 & Katherine, age 4.  It has been a truly rewarding experience watching her own children benefit from the FasTracKids program.  Spending time with her family, golfing, traveling, and continuously learning are among her favorite activities.”