Parenting Matters School Readiness Begins at Home Dear Carol, three I am a stay-at-home mom of l be four small children. The oldest wil going to in December and just misses s in our school this year. The preschool afford right area are more than we can lify for now, and yet we do not qua preschool any State or Federal funded be sure my programs. What can I do to ? son is ready for kindergar ten - Mom of Three Dear Mom, It sounds like you have a very busy household. The first thing I can say to help you is that as a parent you are your child’s first and very best teacher. Your child is learning from what you do with him every day. Your daily routine gives you the opportunity to teach him what he needs to know in order to succeed in school and in life. Talking with your children about the world around them, sharing household chores, and visiting with friends and family all provide opportunities for your young children to learn and grow into curious and criticalthinking school-agers. A consistent daily routine can be the backdrop for teaching your children. Having breakfast together is a great opportunity to teach about healthy foods and how to plan for the day. Talk about the foods they eat and why they are good for them. Discuss what you will be doing each day, from having fun playing to cleaning the house to going shopping or visiting friends. Your local library is a wonderful source for books, recordings, and videos on what happens in kindergarten, tales from around the world, and stories about nature. When you read, talk, sing and watch movies together about the things that interest your child, you are helping him to learn and preparing him to become a good student. When children enter kindergarten, the most important thing they need is a well developed vocabulary. The more words your child knows and understands, the more effective communicator she can be. Children also need to be motivated to learn. Parenting Matters continued on page 28 Home-Based Learning to Support School Readiness Language and Literacy - Read to your child 10-20 minutes a day. Rest or bedtime gives you the opportunity to read to each other, share stories, or simply talk about events of the day. These interactions will help your child learn new vocabulary, increase his comprehension, encourage problem solving and give your child a chance to recall things that happened earlier or the stories he has heard. Have a variety of writing and drawing materials like pencils, markers, crayons, paint brushes and blank paper around the house. Give your child a space where he can write and draw safely without interruption from younger siblings. Ask him to tell you about his writing and drawings, and proudly display them in your home. STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math have become increasingly apparent as subjects children need to learn in school. In fact, children benefit greatly when they explore all of these concepts before they go to school. Cooking and baking with your child can help him understand concepts of literacy, science and math as you follow a recipe, measure out the ingredients, and discuss what you need to do to make a cake rise or figure out how long it takes for something to cook. You’re also incorporating technology and engineering when you use electric mixers, food processors, and search for recipes online. Social Emotional Development - This is the foundation for all your child will learn. When children have a solid sense of self, confidence, healthy relationships, and problem-solving skills like learning to cope with new or difficult situations, they are ready to face the enormous task of being a part of a large group. Plan opportunities like play dates for your child to learn to cooperate and take turns. When I had young children I remember joining a play group. Each week one of the moms in the group would take turns engaging the children in activities in their home for a few hours in the morning. Not only did each mom get a break now and them, but the children got exposure to interacting with adults other than their parents. This is important for social emotional development as children learn to leave home for a specified period of time and be under the guidance of another adult—their new teacher. 2013 • Issue 5 Piedmont Family Magazine 17