Parents get so caught up in making sure that their kids have all of the academic skills they need for Kindergarten that they sometimes forget all about independent self help skills.
Developing independent skills at home can be fun and easy and provide your child with the confidence she needs to be successful in school!
Thanks to My Cute Graphics for use of this School Desk graphic!
Independent skills are the skills that kids need to take care of themselves. One of the biggest differences between preschool and Kindergarten is the expectations the students have.
There is usually only one teacher to meet the needs of everyone in the class so helping yourself and being able to successfully navigate the Kindergarten room is extremely important. Learning how to tie your shoes is one that parents remember to teach, but here are three more you may not even realize that kids need to learn!
1. Putting Away Your Belongings and Turning in Work to the Teacher
Preschool teachers start to develop this skill in school, but Kindergarten teachers require it. Kids need to be able to unpack their backpacks, turn in important papers and lunch money, and keep track of their supplies. No one expects them to walk in the door on the first day and do this perfectly, but kids who can already do similar things at home are a lot more successful and feel a lot more comfortable in Kindegarten.
2. Putting On and Off and Zippering and Buttoning Your Coat
Think of how difficult it is to get out the door with your own children sometimes and imagine how much time would be taken up in a classroom if the teacher had to help everyone get their coats on and off! Helping to teach your student how to dress and undress themselves helps them feel confident in the classroom and gives them more time to explore and learn in the classroom.
3. Opening All of the Items in Your Lunchbox
Being able to get your own food open is so important! Lunch time is limited and even if the teacher or lunch aide is going around to help each child it may take awhile. The last thing you want is a hungry child at school!
Making sure they know how to open their water bottle or juice box and tear, unsnap, unzip all of the containers inside makes the day go much more smoothly. Try out new items at home first and don’t send them in until you know your child can open them alone.
Set Up an Obstacle Course to Develop Kindergarten Independent Skills
So what is the best way to develop the independent skills kids needs for Kindergarten? By practicing them in a fun way of course!
A super fun way to practice is to set up an obstacle course for you child either inside or outside. Have a bunch of stations they have to complete as they go through the course. They can open up a water bottle, put a homework folder in a certain spot, put on a jacket, etc. Invite friends over to make it even more fun! Making independent skills fun and engaging for kids is a great way to get them excited about school.
Thank you to My Cute Graphics for the use of this superhero kids graphic.
Check out the Kindergarten readiness activities shared by the other Get Ready for K through PLAY! hosts
Everyday Ways to Foster Independence from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Practicing Independence Skills from Mess for Less
Transition Time: Teaching Kids to Move From One Activity to Another from Toddler Approved
Teaching Kids Independence: Learning How to Ask for and Offer Help from Mama Smiles
Getting Out the Door: Helping Develop Independence Rainy Day Mum
And catch up on last week’s Teacher Says! Listening Game and Language Experience Stories post for a FUN way to work on social and emotional skills and language skills!
Next week we’ll all be back sharing activities to develop the math skills needed for Kindergarten!
In the meantime be sure to follow our Get Ready for K Through PLAY! Pinterest Board for a huge collection of Kindergarten readiness activities!
Theresa Harris says
June 26, 2013 at 1:46 pmThanks for this! I love the obstacle course idea- little ‘jobs’ are much more fun when it involves play.
Megan Sheakoski says
June 26, 2013 at 1:49 pmSo true! It makes it much more fun for the grown ups too…no whining! Ha!
Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas says
June 26, 2013 at 6:55 pmYES! So spot on! I can tell you the number of children that can not button their pants, open their food wrappers or put papers in their folder at the start of the year. A little practice goes a long way to help both the children and the teacher.
maryanne @ mama smiles says
June 26, 2013 at 8:55 pmThree very important skills! Choosing the right clothes and lunch containers (that are easy to work with) can also go a long ways towards kids feeling ready for kindergarten!
Carolyn says
June 28, 2013 at 8:42 pmI love how you are able to find easy ways to engage kids in activities that are fun and that benefit them!
Megan Sheakoski says
June 30, 2013 at 9:47 amYou are the best! Thanks so much Carolyn!
Maura says
June 29, 2013 at 8:58 amI just stumbled upon your website and pinned it. I teach Kindergarten and I LOVE this post! I wish I could send it home to incoming K parents! It’s 100% accurate! Yet I often get the sense that when I politely point out these things to parents, some think we (my assistant and I) are not being sensitive to the needs of their child. Of course we help them…but if all 21 need help zipping/packing/getting ready to eat, well….you get the picture!! Anyway, can you make this post go viral?!!
Megan Sheakoski says
June 30, 2013 at 9:45 amMaura it is so true!!! And some of those lunch box containers are even tough for me to open! Crossing my fingers for going viral too.;)
Lori Graybill says
July 3, 2013 at 7:52 amI teach Pre-K and this is going into my welcome letter so that parents know what we will be working on, so that they will be ready for kindergarten.
Megan Sheakoski says
July 4, 2013 at 4:22 pmLori I’m so glad it was useful!
Lisa McGroaty says
September 8, 2013 at 8:56 pmI just found this post on Pinterest and I LOVE it! I am a Kindergarten teacher and it is so wonderful that you are helping parents to realize how important these skills are. Would you mind if I use this post for my Back-to-School Night presentation? I think it would be really valuable. Thanks!
Megan Sheakoski says
September 9, 2013 at 9:06 amI’m glad you found it so helpful! It’s the little things parents may not realize that can really make a big difference! I’d love for you to share it (with credit) with your parents. Have a fantastic school year!!!
Emma @ P is for Preschooler says
March 29, 2014 at 3:39 pmThese are helpful to remember! One thing we had to focus on was teaching my daughter to fix her jacket when it’s inside out (because it always is when she takes it off!). And a fun way we practice opening lunchboxes and containers is having lunch in her lunchbox, just for fun. She loves the “playing school” aspect!
Megan Sheakoski says
March 30, 2014 at 6:51 pmGreat point Emma!!! The inside out jacket is a big one!
Scott says
November 23, 2016 at 5:21 pmI had no idea that it is important to teach your child how to put on and take off their coat before sending them to kindergarten. I can see why this would be something that could be overlooked. I’ll have to remember this when I have my first kid go.
John says
May 9, 2017 at 1:34 pmI thought the article did a good job listing a couple things your child ought to learn prior to starting kindergarten. Simple things like buttoning a coat and opening lunch box items aren’t things I would normally think about, but I can see why they were added on this list. My wife and I have been a little nervous about sending our daughter to kindergarten this year even though she wants to go. I think the suggestion to set up an obstacle course for her to practice on would be just as helpful for our nerves as it would be for her independence skills!
Ridley Fitzgerald says
February 26, 2018 at 7:14 pmIt’s good to know how to prepare my kids for kindergarten. I like how you said that they need to know how to put on their coats. My twins probably can’t zip their coats up yet, so I’ll try to teach them before school starts!