What should children know before kindergarten? Should you teach them the alphabet and days of the week, or how to read? Many parents ask similar questions when their child is preparing to start school. If you’re wondering about kindergarten readiness, the teachers at Lucky Lane Nursery School in St. Louis, MO, will provide advice. This early childhood development center offers preschool and summer camp services to give your child an excellent head start on their education.

3 Elements of Kindergarten Readiness

Teach Social Skills

Skills like counting and basic literacy are helpful, but it’s more beneficial to focus on your child’s social skills when preparing them for school. Cooperation and communication are valuable skills at any age, so create opportunities to develop them. Enroll your child in group swimming lessons, music classes, or other community activities to help them interact with others. They will be focusing on academics for at least the next 13 years, and social skills will make the school experience easier.

Develop Fine Motor Skills

Students eventually will spend a lot of time writing and typing, so it’s an excellent idea to develop their fine motor skills before they even learn those tasks. For kindergarten readiness, teach your child activities that require manual dexterity, such as tying their shoes, threading beads on a piece of yarn, and drawing with crayons or chalk.

Nurture a Love of Reading & Learning

Your child will develop character and expand their areas of interest if they have a love of learning, and one of the best ways to encourage it is through reading. You don’t necessarily have to teach your child to read at this point, but reading aloud to them will cultivate an appreciation of language and books. Visit your local library, search the internet for interesting subjects, or tell stories. Watching educational videos also will develop kindergarten readiness as long as you don’t neglect opportunities for discussion.

Another excellent way to ensure your child’s kindergarten readiness is to enroll them in an early childhood education center like Lucky Lane Nursery School. For more information about this leading St. Louis preschool and their academic development programs, visit their website. To discuss enrollment, call (314) 434-4462 or contact them online.