Time to Register for Kindergarten

posted 4/18/24 -- While you continue to work on the skills needed for your child to attend kindergarten, don’t forget the practical steps you need to take to enroll them.

Registration for most districts is now open and information is available on your school district’s website. Be sure to read all the information thoroughly. Reach out to your Family Services Assistant if you have questions about where to go or need help with an online application process.

You can also ease any nervousness in your child by helping them know what to expect. Talk to them about some of the differences between Head Start and kindergarten. They might be riding a school bus or eating lunch in the cafeteria. Visit your public library and choose books about kindergarten to read together.

Keep practicing literacy skills by helping your child write their name. Work on letter identification and sounds. Page three of this newsletter includes some tips on teaching your child to hold a pencil correctly and to use scissors safely.

Routines are critical for early learning. Establish a regular bedtime routine and get in the habit of arriving at school on time. Remember that public schools do not allow late arrivals and count missed school by the MINUTE!

Many schools offer organized opportunities for rising kindergartners to visit. Take advantage of these or contact the school to arrange your own. At these visits your child can play on the playground, walk around the cafeteria, meet the principal and even talk to teachers and students.

Here are some other things you can do with your child to help them become familiar with school experiences.

• Register for a Safety Town event with your local police department.
• Attend a public library story time to practice sitting and listening quietly, then check out some books.
• Help your child make a sandwich and practice packing a lunch.