Ready for kindergarten? Review 4 things before deciding on a school

This paid piece is sponsored by Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools.

If kindergarten is in your child’s future, keep these four things in mind when enrolling.

Language development

You can never read too much but try for at least 20 minutes a day. Give your child plenty of opportunities to “just be creative” by drawing and painting. Get your child interested in learning uppercase and lowercase letters and sounds through reading stories and playing games.

“Because beginning kindergarten is a huge milestone for you and your child, be sure to spend time talking, playing and learning with your child along the way,” explained Shelly Ziebell, kindergarten teacher at St. Michael Elementary.

“Let your child see just how excited you are about school and the many things that he or she will learn. Be sure to give your child lots of praise along the way ,and enjoy each new accomplishment and experience together!”

Cognitive development

Recognize and write numbers through 10. Practice counting, and become familiar with patterns. Know colors; red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, brown, black, pink and white.

Practice naming shapes, and sort objects by color, size and shape. Talk about positional terms: up/down, over/under, top/bottom. Practice opposites: hot/cold, slow/fast, big/little.

Physical development

Extra physical activity means better sleep, so keep your child active through gross motor play. Play catch, and practice skipping, galloping and balancing. Be sure to include unstructured outdoor playtime: climbing, running, jumping. Fine motor skills are equally as important. Your child should be able to write his or her first name. Letters should be written from top to bottom, and only the first letter should be capitalized. Be sure to include additional fine motor skills such as cutting, zipping, tying, stringing beads, stacking blocks or creating with play dough.

“Helping children learn, become responsible and independent in the above areas is something Bishop O’Gorman Catholic School teachers do on a daily basis. Because children enter the school experience at many different levels, we succeed by recognizing their needs immediately,” Ziebell said.

Social/emotional development

Have play dates, play board games while practicing taking turns and being a good sport and encourage your child to clean up after play.

“Our daughter has a much better grasp on her social-emotional skills since starting kindergarten,” said Lawrence Klipfel, parent of a current kindergartener at St. Michael Elementary. “All the staff members at her school treat the students with dignity and respect, which the students emulate with each other. Exposure to character traits like these creates an environment where she can feel comfortable to express herself in healthy ways.”

Developing good self-esteem is an important goal of beginning school, Ziebell added.

“Children who feel good about themselves will gain confidence in their ability to take on challenges of learning,” she said.

If you feel like your student needs a little bit more preparation before heading into a kindergarten classroom, Klipfel said finding the right preschool program might be the answer.

“Our daughter attended preschool at St. Michael’s for two years, which prepared her well for the more structured learning environment of kindergarten. She knew several of her classmates, too, which made making friends a little easier.”

After graduation

Before you know it, your child’s kindergarten graduation day will be here. And what happens after that is just as critical to the learning and career preparedness journey.

At Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools, you’ll find a community for your child to become a part of while growing in faith and learning. Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools’ early elementary curriculum helps set up students for future success in the classroom. As the students grow, teachers and staff help them develop into strong learners and people of character by using lessons and a one-on-one focus catered to their needs.

“Our daughter interacts with multiple staff members and teachers throughout the year on both an individual basis and in small-group settings,” Klipfel said. “Having had exposure to several educators at such a young age has helped her develop an eagerness to learn. It also means there are three, four or five different people helping her develop the skills to be a successful lifelong learner.”

As students progress through junior high and high school, they are offered even more unique opportunities such as AP courses, service projects and activities that will help them grow in character, learning and faith.

Enrollment for the 2022-23 school year at Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools begins Feb. 22! For questions or information, please email [email protected] or call 605-575-3358.