Building Blocks for Kindergarten
Starting kindergarten is an exciting adventure for children and families.
It's a new beginning for learning, making friends, building confidence, and gaining independence.
It's also totally normal for both children and parents to be nervous and excited about starting kindergarten as well.
We are happy to share Building Blocks for Kindergarten, a new guide for families. This handbook provides a wealth a resources that can be helpful in the transition to kindergarten.
There are four key Building Blocks for success:
-
Caring & Sharing - Social & Emotional Development
-
Healthy Habits - Self Care, Physical Well-being, and Motor Skills
-
Use Your Words - Language Develpoment
-
A, B, C's & 1, 2, 3's - Early Learning
This month, we're focusing on Sharing and Caring. As children learn to identify and manage their feelings and emotions, it helps them to deal with changes and challenges that come up. They learn how focus, regulate themselves, and relate to others.
- Set a good example for your child. He or she will imitate you. If you speak with an "inside voice," your child learns to speak with one too.
- Help children talk about her or his feelings and to imagine what others are feeling. This helps them to understand and identify their feelings.
- Give children positive support and feedback to help them know when they are on track.
- Routines help children know what to expect and how to get ready for transitions.
- Set limits for your child so they know their boundaries. Your child will feel safer and more self-confident.
For more great tips, read and download Building Blocks for Kindergarten
The Building Blocks for Kindergarten campaign is part of Santa Monica Cradle to Career, a collective impact initiative of the City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Santa Monica College, service providers, and community members dedicated to making Santa Monica a place where every child has the ability to thrive. Connections for Children is an active member of Cradle to Career and has helped lead the Building Blocks for Kindergarten campaign.