Saint Paul Blast Off to Kindergarten

Blastoff to Kindergarten > April > Get Ready for School

Choose a Month

APRIL

Get Ready for School

photo of childSkills to Practice this Month

Help your child choose and wear clothing that is comfortable for indoors and for outdoor weather conditions. Making their own clothing choices will help children feel proud, comfortable, and confident.

Make sure your child can recognize his own jacket and lunchbox. Help him practice putting on and taking off a coat and tying his shoes.

Activities

Ask your child to name all the things she can do on her own. Make a list of these things together. Ask your child to name some of the things that she wants to be able to do by herself and how she will learn to do these things.

Praise your child’s independence. When your child dresses herself or puts on her own shoes and socks, praise her efforts. You’ll encourage these behaviors and your child will want to try to do more.

Make a growth chart that records your child’s height growth. Use this chart to also record progress she is making and new skills she has learned.

Talk about what the weather is like at different times of the year and the types of clothes people wear during the different seasons. Is it hot in December? Do we usually wear a coat and gloves in summer?

Play a “getting dressed” game with your child. Let him pick out what he would wear for many types of weather and talk about his choices.

Punch 2 rows of 3 or 4 holes in a heavy piece of paper. Provide your child with yarn, ribbon, or shoelaces so that she can practice lacing and tying.

More Fun Activities!

Translate:

Suggested Reading

Books for Children

Growing Like Me
by Anne Rockwell

Centipede's 100 Shoes
by Tony Ross

Hello, Shoes!
by Joan Blos

Ella Sarah Gets Dressed
by Margaret Chodos-Irvine

Books for Parents and Caregivers

The Giant Encyclopedia of Kindergarten Activities: Over 600 Activities Created by Teachers for Teachers
edited by Kathy Charner, Maureen Murphy, and Jennifer Ford

The Complete Book of Activities, Games, Stories, Props, Recipes, and Dances for Young Children
by Pam Schiller and Jackie Silberg

Dedicated to making sure all children in Saint Paul are ready for kindergarten!

City of Saint Paul
Saint Paul Public Library
Saint Paul Public Schools
Greater Twin Cities United Way

©2007- 2008 Saint Paul Public Library and
Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County