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Mendo Lake Family Life

Kinder Prep

By Vanessa Dodge

When our son, Reilly, was turning the big 5, and kindergarten loomed large on the horizon, his preschool teachers assured me he was ready. Just to put my own mind at ease, I read up on the signs of kindergarten readiness and made a checklist:

Cuts with scissors: Yes.

Traces basic shapes: Yes.

Sorts similar objects by color, size, and shape: Yes.

Recognizes groups of one, two, three, four, and five objects: Yep.

Recognizes alphabet letters: Practically since he exited the womb.

Counts to 10: Check.

Bounces a ball: Check.

Recognizes authority and follows rules: Check.

Recognizes some common sight words like “stop”: Especially if it is written on a red octagon at an intersection.

Recognizes rhyming sounds: Can you guess? It’s a yes!

Identifies the beginning sound of some words: Did you know that “cute” starts with cue-cue-Q? And “white” starts with why-why-Y?

Shows an understanding of general times of day: Particularly if they are associated with food or fun.

Talks in complete sentences of five to six words: Often in one long, continuous, run-on sentence of 500 or so words, especially when I’m waiting for him to take a breath so that I can ask him to get dressed or set the table etc.

Shares with others: So long as it isn’t a favorite brand-new toy.

Separates from parents without being upset: We’re working on it!

Looks at pictures and then makes up stories: Particularly if the picture is of construction equipment or a dead fish rotting on the sea floor.

Listens to stories without interrupting: As long as the story isn’t about a crane. Or a shark. Or a dead fish rotting on the sea floor. Or a volcano, for that matter. Or, when I come to think of it, the formation of the solar system and the Earth. Or, since we’re on the subject, tornadoes. Or …

Pays attention for short periods of time to adult-directed tasks: Unless it is something he doesn’t feel like doing, in which instance he will gaze off into space or continue whatever he is doing with intense concentration as if he hasn’t heard you.

Understands actions have both causes and effects: ACTION: steal baby Raccoon from Gigi’s bunny house. CAUSE: To discover what sister will do. EFFECT: That girl can scream!

Manages own toileting needs: Very good at this, I’m happy to say. The only thing he can’t do on his own is unblock the toilet after he’s used the entire toilet roll to wipe.

Dresses self and is able to deal with buttons and zippers: The only problem we have getting dressed is with socks. You don’t want to hear the sock drama.

Can exercise self-control: As long as we are not putting on socks (see above). v

Remember, you have time to work through these things at your child’s pace. Joking aside, hopefully this list helps you feel confident in handing over some of your children’s learning to folks formally trained in how to facilitate it, and to pass the baton of preferred playmate to the little boys and girls who will hopefully seize it. 

Vanessa Dodge lives in Petaluma with her husband and two children. Her work has appeared in various publications, including Glamour and Mom Writers Literary Magazine.