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April 2025

Giving MECK Pre-K families the tools to succeed!

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Transitioning to kindergarten is a significant milestone for both children and parents, this change can bring a mix of emotions. It’s normal to feel everything from excitement to anxiety, so acknowledge and accept your feelings as part of the process. Involve your child in preparations by visiting the school, meeting the teacher, and discussing what to expect, which can help both of you feel more comfortable. Focus on the positive aspects of this new adventure and share your enthusiasm and confidence with your child to help them feel secure. Establishing a consistent routine can provide stability and ease the transition. Additionally, connecting with other parents going through the same experience can be reassuring. Remember, it’s okay to feel emotional during this time.

Parent Cafe (in Spanish)- April 24th at 6pm

Get ready for Kindergarten!

*A link will be provided closer to the date*

Sequencing is a foundational skill that helps young children understand the order of events and actions, which is essential for language development, problem-solving, and daily routines. As a parent, you can naturally teach your prekindergartner these skills through everyday activities. Here are some fun and simple ways to practice sequencing at home:

1. Storytelling & Reading: While reading together, ask questions like, "What happens first?" or "What do you think comes next?" Encourage your child to create stories with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
2. Daily Routines: Verbalize routine steps, such as getting dressed or making breakfast. For example, "First we put on shoes, then we grab our jacket, and after that, we head out the door."
3. Games & Puzzles: Play sequencing games or use puzzles that require putting pieces in order. Memory and matching games also help children practice remembering sequences.
4. Cooking Together: Follow simple recipes and talk through each step, like washing veggies, chopping, and cooking. Cooking provides a hands-on way to practice sequencing.
5. Arts & Crafts: During craft projects, guide your child step-by-step, like cutting, gluing, and coloring. You can also create a sequence of pictures and ask your child to arrange them in order.
6. Songs & Rhymes: Sing songs or rhymes that have a natural order, such as "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider," and act them out together. This helps reinforce the idea of sequence in a fun, interactive way.
7. Pretend Play: Use pretend play to act out sequences of events, such the steps that happen when going to the doctor or going on a trip. This also prepares them for experiences that they may have in the real world.
8. Outdoor Play: During nature walks, talk about the order of things you see, like flowers, trees, and birds. Set up obstacle courses or scavenger hunts that require the following steps in order.

Signs your Preschoolers may need additional Social-Emotional Support

As your preschooler grows, it’s natural for them to experience challenges while learning how to navigate emotions and social interactions. However, there are certain behaviors that may signal your child could benefit from extra support:

• Little or no interest in playing with peers
• Difficulty making eye contact
• Consistently sad or withdrawn
• Regression in previously learned skills {e.g., potty training, speech, social interactions)
• Aggression toward others
• Difficulty expressing emotions or identifying how they feel

If you notice any of these behaviors, please remember that your preschooler is still developing these important skills. Some children may simply need a little more support as they learn to socialize and self-regulate.

Your Meck Pre-K team is here to listen and support you. If you have any concerns, we encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher for guidance.

Self-Regulation is the child's ability to express emotions and manage behaviors in healthy ways. Children demonstrate developing self-regulation skills in a variety of ways as they take turns and laugh with friends, navigate the daily routine, cope with frustrating situations and modulate their energy levels. Here are some examples you can try at home.



• Using modeling to help a child learn new behaviors such as sharing or taking turns. Brian, you can take a turn with my car. Tyrone, did you see how I shared with Thomas?
• Read picture books with your child that offer ideas for how to get along with others such as, Making Friends by Fred Rogers, I Can Share by Karen Katz or Hands Are Not for Hitting by Martine Agassi. Talk with your child about what they do now or could do in the future to get along with others.
• Be flexible and adjust your schedule if your child needs extra time to talk about a conflict or process feelings. “Jackson, I know you are not finished with your building project, and it is time to get ready for bedtime. Let’s take a few extra minutes to put up a work in progress sign so you can finish this tomorrow.

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