Do you have an incoming Kindergarten? Do you need ideas for getting your child ready for Kindergarten? I have six ideas for you!
What will you do with your son or daughter to get ready for Kindergarten? Please share!
1) Free Kindergarten Readiness Printable Book
I made this book for my son’s preschool both as a Kindergarten readiness book and as a special keepsake. I hope you have fun using it too!
Download my FREE printable book: My Book About Me
2. Top 10 Diversity Starting School Books: Kindergarten and Preschool
pi
3. Top 10 Starting School Books: Kindergarten and Preschool
4. Preparing for Kindergarten: Activities to Do with Your Child
This has a great list of activities including fine motor, scissors, sensory, mid-line crossing, developing handwriting skills, ocular motor control, and eye-hand coordination. This article is by Loubina Buxamusa, an Occupational Therapist, and Ann Mahoney, an early Childhood Specialist.
5. Learning to Tie Your Shoelaces
Not all Kindergarten teachers expect their students to be able to tie their own shoelaces but it does come in handy for the kids when they play sports. Here are two great posts for learning to tie a bow.
Tie bows for wreath projects from Kindergarten and Preschool for Parents and Teachers.
Shoes and learning to tie them from Growing Book by Book.
6. Starting Kindergarten Picture Book of the Day GIVEAWAY
Planet Kindergarten by Sue Ganz-Schmitt, illustrated by Shane Prigmore
Starting Kindergarten might seem like entering a strange new planet. It will take careful preparation to navigate this new and strange world! The commander gives the flight plan for the day at Planet Kindergarten and the journey begins:
- Test conditions outside of our capsule (a.k.a. recess)
- Capture images for our families (a.k.a. drawing)
- Consume space food (a.k.a. lunch)
- Splashdown onto the home planet (a.k.a. return home)
And the best part is that you get to do it again tomorrow! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board ‘Best of’ PragmaticMom on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We are working on a LOT of fine motor!!
Hi Anne,
Sounds like you will be well prepared for Kindergarten!
All awesome readiness ideas! Planet Kindergarten is funny and unique. The other suggested books look great too! I’ll pass this along to the few K-teachers I know.
Thanks so much Jim!! I found these starting kindergarten books to be helpful getting my kids ready for school. My oldest was the most nervous but they seemed to like knowing exactly what to expect. The books that went over the routine of the day were especially helpful in easing their fears (of no more nap time and other things they did not enjoy in preschool!).
I would love to read this to the new students this year.
Hi Leslie N,
Thanks so much for entering! I think it would be a fun book to read the first day of school for brand new kindergarteners so I hope you win but only Rafflecopter decides!
Great minds think alike! I reviewed this books today! 🙂 It is an awesome book!
Hi Erik,
That was so fun to see that we both posted on the same book the same day!! And gratifying to know that you liked it too!!!
Today was my daughter’s last day of 6th grade, but way back for her first day of kindergarten we gave her a Schultüte to commemorate the occasion (since her father is German). It’s a cone-shaped carton that one can fill with school supplies and treats. She loved it, and was so proud, and this helped with her transition.
Hi Maria,
What a lovely tradition!!!
I’ve been collecting ideas for books on starting Kindergarten for when we need them — my oldest still has one more year before he starts, but I know it will go by in the blink of an eye! Thanks for the ideas. This summer, we’ll be working on keeping fresh with our letters and numbers and all the other awesome things he’s learned this past year! I love this age when school and learning are something they love to do.
Hi Aubrey,
I love your ideas for the summer!! I’m so glad my list is helpful for you! It is such a special time when kids are so eager and enthusiastic about learning and doing homework!!
Great idea for a book! My little one has a few years to go before the big first day at Kindergarten (and thank goodness, I’m certainly not ready yet!) but it’s never too soon to start talking about how cool school is (going to be)!
Hi Stephanie,
I totally agree! These books make school familiar and something to look forward to!
My son is entering kinder this fall and our family would love to get him ready in any way!
Hi Mattie,
Thanks so much for entering. It would be a perfect book for a boy entering kindergarten! Good luck!!!
Nice info for moms. I’m 25 years beyond kindergarten with my kids. So many more challenges today for parents and children. I’m glad there are so many resources.
Thanks so much Patricia!! These books are helpful and kindergarten now seems more like first grade from when I was in school. I think it’s from the pressure of standardized tests that the kids start taking in third grade. Now they want to get kids reading independently by the end of kindergarten, if possible.
I’m dedicated to having a slow and connected summer with her.
That sounds wonderful Amy! You are creating memories that will last a lifetime!
Fantastic lists! Thank you for sharing it with us #pintorials
Thanks so much for your kind words Eileen!
Lots of trips to the library to read!
Thanks so much Nancy!!