Why it’s important:  Empathy allows children to understand and respond to the feelings of others. This skill supports friendships and conflict resolution. How to do it:  Talk about how others might feel in different situations. Use books, play scenarios, or real-life moments to ask questions like, “How do you think they feel?” What to look […]

Why it’s important:  Many kindergarten activities involve working together. Teamwork helps children learn cooperation, communication, and shared responsibility. How to do it:  Engage in activities that require working together, such as building something, completing a puzzle, or cleaning up. Emphasize working as a team. What to look for: Participates in shared tasks Communicates during activities […]

Why it’s important:  Reviewing skills helps reinforce what children have learned and strengthens their ability to use those skills independently. How to do it:  Revisit activities from earlier in the month, such as taking turns, sharing, and asking for help. Make it fun by turning it into a game or challenge. What to look for: […]

Why it’s important:  Reading books about school helps children understand what to expect and reduces anxiety about starting kindergarten. How to do it:  Choose a book about starting school and read it together. Talk about what happens in the story and connect it to what your child might experience. What to look for: Engages in […]

Why it’s important:  Celebrating progress builds confidence and reinforces positive behaviors. It helps children feel proud of what they have learned. How to do it:  Talk about all the social skills your child has practiced this month. Celebrate with a small activity, special treat, or words of encouragement. Highlight their growth and effort. What to […]

Why it’s important: Recognizing their name is one of the first academic skills children use in kindergarten. It helps them find their belongings, identify their work, and begin connecting letters to meaning. This skill also builds early literacy confidence. How to do it: Write your child’s name clearly and show it to them often. Point […]

Why it’s important: A proper pencil grip helps children write comfortably and with control. Developing this early prevents frustration during writing tasks. How to do it: Provide crayons, markers, or short pencils (which naturally encourage proper grip). Model how to hold writing tools using fingers instead of the whole hand. What to look for: Uses […]

Why it’s important: Drawing lines builds the foundation for writing letters and numbers. How to do it: Encourage your child to draw straight, zigzag, and curved lines using crayons, markers, or even finger tracing in sand or shaving cream. What to look for: Attempts different types of lines Gains control over movements Shows increased precision […]