RALEIGH ń The transition into kindergarten is a milestone for children and parents alike. Smart Start, North Carolina’s nationally-recognized early childhood initiative, offers a guide to help parents prepare their 3- to 5-year-olds to start school.
“Ready, Set, Go: A Journey to Kindergarten Calendar” is a monthly guide starting in September that shows how to turn everyday activities into learning opportunities for children.
Laura Villegas, director of programs for Smart Start Rowan, says the first 50 parents who come by the local office, 1839 W. Jake Alexander Blvd., can have one of the calendars for free.
Others can order the calendar for $10 from the state Smart Start Web site, http://www.ncsmartstart.org/
“School readiness is not about a 5-year-old walking into kindergarten knowing how to read and add. Those kinds of expectations put undue stress on parents and can overwhelm children,” says Gerry Cobb, director of Smart Start’s National Technical Assistance Center. “What children really need to know are some basic social skills, how to take care of themselves and how to express their needs. Talking to your child about what to expect can also ease their anxiety and make the experience a positive one.”
“Ready, Set, Go” tips include ways to spark a child’s curiosity and help them learn through play while at the park, baking in the kitchen or at the library.
It offers practical tips such as making sure a child knows his name and phone number, can use the toilet independently, knows how to wash his or her hands and uses the buddy system when riding the bus.
Filled with helpful Web sites and books for adults and children, the guide links parents to a variety of state and national resources as well.
While designed for one year before kindergarten begins, the guide is also helpful for children starting school this year. Many children feel nervous about the big day. “Ready, Set, Go” offers several tips to ease a child’s anxiety, including answering questions to set the scene.
For example, answer these questions to put your child at ease:
– Will I know anybody at kindergarten?
– Will my friends be there?
– May I take my favorite toy?
– Will I get to nap?
– What will we do?
– Who will give me my medicine?
– Where will I go to the bathroom?
– What kind of food do they have?
– Is it OK to cry?
– Will I go outside and play?
– How will I get to school and back home again?
– Who will be my teacher? What is my teacher’s name?
The $10 fee for the calendar goes towards building a stronger early education foundation for North Carolina children. The calendar includes information from Foundations: Early Learning Standards for North Carolina Preschoolers, developed by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to identify widely held expectations for 3-to 5-year-olds.
Smart Start is North Carolina’s early childhood leadership network dedicated to assuring that every child reaches his or her potential and is prepared for success in a globally competitive world. For more information, visit http://www.ncsmartstart.org/.