Little Sparkz
™
A unique Kindergarten enrichment program…
with a sparkling twist!
Frequently asked questions
What is Little Sparkz?
The Little Sparkz™ program was designed by a team of specialist ECD teachers to get your child ready for Kindergarten and Grade 1! This program tests and builds on a variety of skills that your little sparkz needs in order to successfully navigate starting big school. The program centres around all developmental milestones for this age group, and ensures that all of the main competencies are addressed in a fun-filled environment. The program comprises play and games, as well as stimulating educational activities:
- Basic Literacy & Numeracy
- Gross & Fine Motor Skills
- Co-ordination & Midline Crossing
- Vocabulary & Language
How old should my child be for each Little Sparkz level?
LITTLE SPARKZ LEVEL 1 is perfect for:
- 3 – 5 year olds
- Children preparing for Junior Kindergarten or Pre-K
- Children needing to consolidate foundational skills before entering Senior Kindergarten
LITTLE SPARKZ LEVEL 2 is perfect for:
- 4 – 6 year olds
- Children preparing for Junior Kindergarten who have completed Level 1
- Children preparing for Senior Kindergarten
- Children needing to consolidate foundational skills before entering Grade 1
Tips And Tricks For Parents:
Pencil Grip & Writing:
- We recommend reading the pencil grip technique article.
- Encourage your child to hold the pencil correctly in order to trace as neatly as possible.
- Repeat that your child needs to remain on the dots and follow them slowly – don’t rush!
- Refer to the Letter Writing Guidelines sheet to guide your child to start forming their letters correctly.
- If your child’s hand gets tired, tell them to raise their hand, shake it, and then begin again.
- Praise your child for their efforts and neatness.
Cutting Technique:
- Encourage your child to hold and pass scissors with the sharp edges together in their hand, and the handles facing upwards
- We recommend having a look at the following article: https://www.missjaimeot.com/fine-motor-skills-cutting/ or watching this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDtupoBsp6o&authuser=0 if you’d like some advice on correct cutting technique.
Tips And Tricks For Your Little Spark:
What is the Handwriting Cat?
A little trick that teachers use to help students learn to write within dotted lines is the “Handwriting Cat” (also known as “Clever Cat”). Get your own hand writing cat guide.
- His bottom sits on the solid base line and his body takes up the first gap.
- His head sits on top, occupying the second gap up between the dotted lines.
- His tail dangles below the solid line, extending to the first dotted line below.
The Handwriting Cat acts as a fun visual aid to assist children in remembering where letters should sit between the lines, as well as their sizing. Give it a try!
Uppercase & Lowercase Letters:
When we write the lowercase letters, we can see that they all sit in the Handwriting Cat’s body space. Some also sit in his head space and some in his tail space. You can refer to the letters as “body letters” or “head letters” or “tail letters” once you and your child are familiar with the concept.
All uppercase letters sit in the body and head space. They are usually easier for children to identify and write than lowercase letters due to being less similar in form and thus easier to differentiate between. They are also more recognizable from signage that children see on a daily basis.
We’ve hand-picked some blog articles perfect for parents of Kindergarteners:
About Us
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