Now that your child is in kindergarten, there are new ways you can help them learn. Try these activities, then visit your library to check out a book about it. Click here to print this list.
We are learning Social Emotional Development
Do it!
Help your kindergartner to roleplay a job. Set up a space for a pretend post office, grocery store, or restaurant. Encourage them to use items and toys around the house.
Read it!
Curious George Takes a Job by H. A. Rey. The Biggest Job of All by Harriet Ziefert.
We are learning Mathematical Thinking and Expression
Do it!
Ask your kindergartner to search for sets of things found in your home or outside. Find one rock, two forks, three balls, etc. Matching photographs of different items helps develop visual recognition. Incorporate sensory development by encouraging your child to trace numbers or letters with their fingers.
Read it!
One Mole Digging A Hole by Julia Donaldson. 1, 2, 3 Peas by Keith Baker.
We are learning Language and Literacy
Do it!
Help your kindergartner learn the days of the week. Add words to each name that starts with the same letter, like Munching Monday, Terrific Tuesday, etc. Teach them the months of the year, and do the same, like Jumping January, Fantastic February, etc.
Another fun way to learn is through song. The days of the week can be sung to the tunes of The Addams Family or Oh, my darling, Clementine! Help your kindergartner learn the months of the year by creating a calendar that include special dates such as holidays and birthdays. Encourage them to draw or color pictures or find pictures online to show what special things happen each month.
Read it!
Today is Monday by Eric Carle. Just Wacky! by Andy Griffiths.
We are learning Scientific Thinking
Do it!
See how many things your kindergartner can balance at once. Have a balancing race--who can go the fastest balancing a paper cup on top of a paper plate, then add other items and keep going! If your kindergartner has difficulty with this, use paper cups to make a tower stack. Use a timer and encourage them to count the number of items in the stack.
Read it!
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back by Dr. Seuss. I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! and other stories by Dr. Seuss.
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COVID-19 Pandemic: What Will Your Kindergartner Remember?
The past year has brought many changes which have created stress and concerns. Families may have experienced significant changes, like homelessness, illness, or employment loss. Even children are not immune and may have had child care or school changes, or absence of family members or friends. One concern families may have is what will their children remember from these experiences?
Here are a few recommended articles from the staff at Pennsylvania's Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program. These articles have information on what impacts a child's memories and experiences.
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Language Development and Young Children
In 2013, Stanford University released a study showing a language gap in children living in families with different income levels. The study found “children of lower-income, less-educated parents typically enter school with poorer language skills than their more privileged counterparts. By some measures, 5-year-old children of lower socioeconomic status score more than two years behind on standardized language development tests by the time they enter school.”
A delay in language development can impact the way a child learns, not only while young, but as they get older.
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Share Your Story for Month of the Young Child
Everyone's story is unique, and hearing stories from other families can provide inspiration, encouragement and support.
PA's Promise for Children wants to celebrate families during April's Month of the Young Child. Will you consider sharing your story? Your story might be about:
- What makes your child special
- What dreams you have for your child
- How you help your young child grow, how you help your child feel safe and loved, learn new things, or meet and get along with new people
- How the help of a home visitor, therapist or nurse at home has made an impact for your child and family.
- How a child care, early learning program or teacher has helped you and your child
- How you have seen your child grow, addressed challenges related to illness, disabilities or delays, or learned new words, new skills, or come out of their shell
- Read stories other families have shared!
Early childhood education (ECE) professionals and others may share stories with written permission from the child’s parent/guardian.
Your story will be profiled on Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children website at www.papromiseforchildren.com. We will let you know when your story is live so you can share it with your friends and family.
Although we'll help you tell your story, we won't share identifiable information about your family or your child (like last names or specific locations). If you have any questions, please contact Mary at marhal@pakeys.org.
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Sparking Children's Imagination and Creativity
Imagination and creativity can create new worlds, make play a deeper learning experience, and bring life to activities and ideas. Use these tips to help your kindergartner develop imagination and creativity.
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MyPlate Food Quizzes
Eating healthy foods is part of helping your child grow. How knowledgeable are you about fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy? The U.S. Department of Agriculture has five short online quizzes to test how much you know and provide information.
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Financial Help with Your Child's Medical Expenses
The United Healthcare Children's Foundation can help provide financial help/assistance for families with children that have medical needs not covered or not fully covered by their commercial health insurance plan.
Qualifying families may receive up to $5,000 per child, per year ($10,000 lifetime max). The funds help pay for medical treatment, services or equipment such as surgeries, counseling, prescription medications, wheelchairs, orthotics, eyeglasses, hearing aids and physical, occupational and speech therapies. Click here to learn more. |
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Keeping Your Kindergartner Healthy
Did you know there are vaccine-preventable diseases to protect your kindergartner? You may have almost forgotten about diseases like Diphtheria, Chickenpox, Mumps, Whooping Cough (Pertussis) and others because of vaccines. It's still important for your kindergartner to have vaccines though! While these diseases are preventable, they can still exist and infect those who are not vaccinated. Vaccines can help keep your kindergartner healthy, and vaccines may be required for your child to attend school or an early learning program. Find out which vaccines your child should receive and when .
Getting your kindergartner vaccinated is easy. In Pennsylvania, the Vaccine for Children Program (VFC) provides vaccinations to children who do not have health insurance or children who are insured but the insurance does not cover immunizations (underinsured). These children are eligible to receive federally funded vaccines at public sites, including Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics. For more information, call the Vaccines for Children program: 1-888-646-6864.
For children without insurance, PA CHIP may be able to help. CHIP is short for the Children's Health Insurance Program – Pennsylvania's program to provide health insurance to uninsured children who are not eligible for or enrolled in Medical Assistance. Regardless of the reasons your children might not have health insurance, CHIP may be able to help you. Visit www.chipcoverspakids.com .
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Our Top Pins for Kindergartners!
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The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) provides families access to high quality services to prepare children for school and life success.
Find more information about Quality Early Learning in Pennsylvania
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