fine motor skills and coordination

Your Kindergarten Checklist!

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The summer is flying by quicker than ever and you still have so many things on your to do list. Go to the zoo, visit a new Provincial Park, hit the beach. And all the while lingering thoughts of your “baby” entering elementary school in September. 

Not all schools send out comprehensive information or conduct Kindergarten orientation to answer the questions that you probably have flying around in your brain for half the day, so we thought we could help you out by answering some, or hopefully all these questions and concerns.

What needs to go into my Kindergartener’s backpack?

  • Be sure to get a bag that is big enough to fit their snow pants, gloves, hat, water bottle and lunch on those winter days. This is when their bags will be the fullest. Keeping in mind they are still small, so we wouldn’t want them ending up on their back like a tortoise either. 
  • A lunch bag that is big enough to fit their lunch meal, fruit and two snacks. They’re likely going to have one snack mid morning, and then lunch. Each break for eating is 20 – 30 minutes and will precede or follow outside play time.
  • Water bottle. Make sure to get a leak proof bottle that is easy enough for your child to open independently. One with a straw is easier than a bigger outlet and will help prevent spills if the bottle falls over.
  • Just as we do not want to dirty our floors at home, indoor shoes are needed for school too. These need to be easy enough for them to get on and off quickly, preferably with velcro or just pull-on. No laces!
  • Our children may be fully potty trained but accidents still happen. Socks get wet from rainy day puddles, and having fun at school generally means getting dirty. Therefore it is essential to pack (in a zip lock bag, labelled with their name) some extra clothes. This can be a t-shirt, shorts, long pants, underwear and socks. You may even want to include a hoodie or long sleeve shirt. This bag generally gets taken out on the first day and placed in their cubbies for the term.
  • Schools generally have two nutrition breaks. Always pack a lunch (sandwich or warm meal in a flask so that it’s still yummy by the time it’s lunch break) along with a fruit and two snacks. This way they are able to have 2 different foods for each nutrition break. 

What kind of snacks should I pack?

  • Crackers are easy to eat, either on their own or with cheese.
  • Yogurt is available in cups, tubes or bottles. Choose whichever works best for your child.
  • Nut-free granola bars are a great filler.
  • Children generally enjoy the sweetness of dried fruit.
  • Whole grain cereals that also double up as a good fine motor exercise
  • Popcorn can also be a healthier alternative to chips
  • Cut up fresh veggies such as cucumbers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers and olives 
  • Throw in a small cup of hummus for dipping!
  • Cut up fruits are always a hit – berries, grapes (cut vertically), apples, pears and more.
  • Cheese in all forms – blocks, strings, grated – are a great source of protein

Try to avoid packing too many sugary snacks for your child to promote healthy eating into their routine, as well as ensuring that their energy remains constant during the day by avoiding those sugar spikes. Putting a Friday treat into their lunch is a fun way to bring in some sugar in a less regular way. 

What will my Kindergartener learn? 

The following breakdown will give you a good guideline of what is expected of your child throughout their Kindergarten year. If at any time during the year you feel unsure of your child’s progress, always reach out to the teacher or get in touch with a tutor to help ensure they smash this vital year!

The Four Frames

1. Belonging and Contributing

  • Focus: Developing a sense of belonging and understanding their role in various groups, such as family, school, and community.
  • Skills: Social skills, empathy, responsibility, and understanding diversity.
  • Activities: Group activities, discussions about family and community, collaborative play.

2. Self-Regulation and Well-Being

  • Focus: Managing emotions, developing self-regulation skills, and promoting physical and mental well-being.
  • Skills: Emotional awareness, self-control, health and safety practices.
  • Activities: Mindfulness exercises, physical activities, healthy eating discussions, routines for managing transitions.

3. Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours

  • Focus: Developing early literacy and numeracy skills through meaningful, playful experiences.
  • Skills: Recognizing letters and sounds, storytelling, counting, recognizing patterns and shapes.
  • Activities: Reading stories, writing, counting games, using manipulatives for math concepts.

4. Problem Solving and Innovating

  • Focus: Encouraging curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
  • Skills: Inquiry, experimentation, innovation, and problem-solving.
  • Activities: Science experiments, building projects, exploring nature, open-ended questions and discussions.

What other things do I need to remember?

  • You should receive confirmation from your child’s class teacher and room on the Friday before school starts via email. Your school is likely to send out communication about this before the time. Watch out for emails and updates so that you’re in the know. This email will also outline which door your child will go in through or where their teacher will meet them on the first day.
  • If your child is going to be taking the bus, ensure that you know their stops and bus timing, and walk the route to the bus stop beforehand to see how long it will take to get there.
  • Label all your child’s clothing and items. Water bottles, lunch bags and containers, their clothing that they are wearing as well as the clothing sent with for the day. 
  • All food items should not contain peanuts or tree nuts. This is extremely important as there are many children that have allergies and can cause anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of an allergic reaction, and is life threatening.

How can I help my child manage their emotions around the first day and week?

  • The first day often runs smoothly, little to no tears (from your child that is!). However, the second day and probably the rest of the week may be difficult for your child. Communicate with them about what they can expect. Explain to them that they will meet new friends, new teachers and that they will be safe at school. Ensure that you (or the person collecting them) will collect them every day at the same time. They will never be left there. We often forget to explain in detail to our children about what they can expect from a situation. The better prepared they are, the better the outcome will be. Remember to use this tool for any situations that arise, such as extramural sports or academics.
  • Establishing a routine prior to starting school is a great way to alleviate any potential emotional breakdowns. Set up a consistent morning and evening routine a week or so before school starts, provide a sense of stability and predictability before the BIG switch.
  • If your child tends to suffer from anxiety around separation after a long break from school routines, let your child bring a small comfort item, like a favourite keychain or a family photo, to school. This can provide emotional reassurance.

Now that you are equipped with this vital information, the transition into Kindergarten should be easier for your child as well as for you. If there’s anything else you’re unsure of, please feel free to let us know so that we can add it for the benefit of other parents entering this big year!

Enjoy the rest of your summer!