Can't afford pre-school. how should I help prepare my daughters for kindergarten?

Margaret - posted on 03/24/2011

If you have a computer you can go on line to pbskids.com. the have all kinds of activities for each age group, in math,language,ats and crafts, and a special parents area where you can talk to other parents and get ideas. Becoming your child's first best teacher is easy when you find the right help. I find the best way to get my son to do things he does not want to do is to tell him he can't . or just make a game of it, they will be having so much fun they wont know they are learning.

Gladys - posted on 03/21/2011

I used to disguise the lessons. We used to make art for aunts and grandmas. Little did he know I would cut out the shape and I would say how about we use the circle for the flowers. How many flowers should we make them count them out. We also read everynight this helped alot in Kinder because they were required to read at least 20 minutes he was already in the habit.

Denise - posted on 03/21/2011

My daughter went to preschool, but she really loved to play on my laptop on kids internet websites--- like, Starfall.com and we also bought her some educational games like Dr. Seuss ABCs for our laptop.. I'd also take her out- playgrounds, playdates, museums, hikes, even the mall just to explore and learn about the world.. reward her too!

Denise - posted on 03/21/2011

My daughter went to preschool, but she really loved to play on my laptop on kids internet websites--- like, Starfall.com and we also bought her some educational games like Dr. Seuss ABCs for our laptop.. I'd also take her out- playgrounds, playdates, museums, hikes, even the mall just to explore and learn about the world.. reward her too!

Christi - posted on 12/11/2009

The dollar store has flash card (for #'s, letters, and shapes) they also have great work books. If you have a madels (I think that's how you spell it.) They are a christian book store/ education store. They aren't pushy with religion so don't have to worry about that if it is a concern. They have great stuff and great prices (I bought my daughter and neice an alfabet book that is dry erase it's fantastic).

Missy - posted on 12/11/2009

Contact a preschool and ask the teach to send you what she recommends. Or email a kindergarten teacher at the school your child will be going to and ask what they look for in kindergarteners.

Pauline - posted on 12/11/2009

Work & play with your girls. You can get books @ the library and/or your county to help you out. Not everyone goes to pre-school, so don't feel bad. There is a guide for parents called: Beginning Steps for Learning at Home and at School by Cheryl Katherine Hoefler that can help you. Colors, letters, numbers 1-100, shapes, address, phone #, birthday, months, days of the week, 5 senses, etc... Good luck - it will be fun for both you & your girls. Singing is something you can incorporate into these subjects to make it more fun. Take care.

Lisa - posted on 12/11/2009

My daughter is in Kindergarten now and while she did go to preschool, I don't really think that was a huge part in helping her transition. I think it's more what she was being taught at home about basic letters, colors, shapes, etc. The social aspect can be learned elsewhere for free too such as heading to the park anytime it's nice out so she can interact with other kids, going to the library, or heading to a playland or mall with an indoor play area. A big help could be to check out storytimes at the library. Most have them for free and it'll give your children a chance to interact with a "teacher figure" that isn't you. They may tend to listen more to someone else that isn't mommy. Also, a great activity book that's less than $10 at a bookstore like Borders is Everything for Early Learning Preschool Edition. My daughter did a lot of the things in here at Preschool. It's an activity book of over 300 pages of things to do with letters, colors, shapes, cutting, pasting, etc. Maybe your daughter would like that it's something you could give her the instructions for and then leave her to it :) I agree with one of the posts above that suggested asking the kindergarten for a list of things they need to know. Ours had one and it may help to steer you in the right direction. Most importantly, teach them to be self confident, well rounded individuals with good listening skills and the rest will fall into place. Remember that only you know what's best for your kids :)

Josie - posted on 12/10/2009

Hi, I have my associate degree in early ed. I used to teach the 4 year olds before I had kids of my own. First of all do not stress too much or your daughters love for school will decrease greatly. Make it as fun as you can. Do not concentrate to much on writing, except the name. Have them write their name a few times a day with the first letter capital the others lowercase. Have them color the best they can, in the lines. Make circles, squares, triangles and stars. Have them name them and try to copy yours. The basic colors, basic shapes, numbers 1 to 10, being able to count to 15 or 20 is great too. Like I said keep it fun and I'm sure they are learning just having one on one time with you. Talk a lot ask simple open ended questions, get their brains thinking. As an example, " Look there is a little girl with her mom, where do you think they are going?, maybe she needs a red hat or new black shoes, Do you think her mom drives that pretty green car? Then they will think and learn without knowing they are learning. I hope this helped...Good luck and enjoy your daughters

Belinda - posted on 12/10/2009

see if your school has a lisr of things they'd like them to know, our school did, but I didn't know about this until she started school. Luckly she knew everything on the list

Coleen - posted on 12/10/2009

other book suggestions: punished by rewards by alfie kohn and another author is Joh Gatto, teaches alot about schooling.



just wanted to add that my 10yr son still does not know how to tie his shoes, does know how to do other knots and such but has had alot of velcro or slip on tpye shoe and has not needed to know. doesn't bother me at all.

Malissa - posted on 12/10/2009

My daughter did not go to preschool either.

I dont know about some schools, some one told me my daughter needed to know sight words and how to tie her shoes... but that was not required for the regular public school she went to. she knew her alphabet and how to count to like 50 or something. she knew how to write her name("Alex", not her whole name Alexandria.) She knew colors and shapes, and her phone number, these things were not requirements through the school though, the only requirement i was aware of was that her 5th birthday had to come before December that year, or she couldnt start school until the following year.

About a stubborn child, try rewarding her, "If you do your work, i will take you to a movie at the end of the week." let her help make cookies or something at the end of a good week. you can make a chart and everyday that she does her work let her put a sticker on the day, then by the end of the week she gets rewarded. I hope i was of some help, Good luck!

Shelly - posted on 12/10/2009

our school district has a pre-kindergarten that is based on income. But if you just work on letters,numbers, coloring at home she will be fine. My oldest did not got to pre-school and he was actually ahead when kindergarten started. I just worked on a topic every week. The weather, seasons, holidays, animals anything fun. Got some number and letter flash cards, went over them every day, practiced coloring did some computer games on websites like pbskids.org and got activity books for pre-k and did one or two sheets every day. My kids loved it and my daughter is in pre-k but still does the home stuff for her "homework" because she has brothers with homework and she wants some to. So she'll drag something out to do as well. Also practice writing names. If they have that they will be great.

Traci - posted on 12/08/2009

Preschool is over rated. Don't be discouraged because you can't afford it. Even those head start programs help only a little in the young years and by the time the child is older, it doesn't make that much of a difference. Don't underestimate yourself. You can do better than anyone else at teaching your child. Make it fun, make it a game, use your imagination. Sing while you cook. There are a million and a half ways to prepare your child for Kindergarten.



My daughter didn't go to preschool and she does better than most of those who did. Even her kindergarten teacher said its better for the kids to stay home. She said preschool does not offer anything that a parent cannot. I was thinking of going to send my son just so he could make some friends in the neighborhood, but I have a lot better things to spend 90 bucks a month on, and I don't like the idea of gov't funded preschool, so he'll just start kindergarten next year. He knows all the basics...he even writes his own thank you letters when he recieves a gift in the mail. Like I said, don't underestimate yourself. You can do it! :)

Jodi - posted on 12/08/2009

There are a TON of great sites on the internet just for this purpose! DSL is one of them I believe. Just look up free preschool materials or early childhood education, you'll find them! I use to have them bookmarked but I have since lost them. My other favorite thing to do is use our feltboard. I made a big ole feltboard and cut out shapes of all different colors, I have a cricut machine so I have also cut out the alphabet upper and lower case and numbers along with animals and what not. If you look up file folder games those are GREAT for the feltboard, especially if you know someone who has access to a laminator. I bought the book Feltboard Fun, it is FULL of great ideas and reproducables. I have not met a kid yet who doesn't like to play with our feltboard, it is a great educational tool that is so much fun! Good luck, and in my opinion, children are better off not going to preschool. My daughter will not be attending preschool or kindergarten, I will take care of that. Just make sure you get them around other kids their ages! Have fun with it!

Sheryl - posted on 12/08/2009

me and my husbend can't afford it too. but i found a program that's through community action. they do many things. here they called head start program. my son loves it. he goes five days a week and from the time school starts and ends. best of all we don't have to pay!! only thing is the need to be anywhere from the age of 3 to 5. i would call your human res. office they may able to till you of a program your state has. if you would like to know anymore or if would like to know more i may be able to help. well hope that helps.

Karen - posted on 12/08/2009

Call your local Library and ask for the reference dept. They should be able to give info on local agencies who can assist you. There is a program called First Steps where I live in South Carolina.

Cheryl - posted on 12/08/2009

i read to my son and now he is 2st and reading third grade books and i just kept

counting to ten and kept working when him

Jacqueline - posted on 12/08/2009

I just bought activities books specially everything for early learning from school specialty publishing. and work with my toddler for 30 minutes everyday. He's excelling in kindergarten this year.

Dana - posted on 12/08/2009

I am in the same boat.

We got a TON of the work books from Wal*Mart and Target and we do those.

Try making it into a game for her.

Ashley - posted on 12/08/2009

head start is always free do you guys have some of those in your area

Casandra - posted on 12/07/2009

read to them, with them, a lot. My son never went to preschool or daycare and at 8 reads at an 8th grade comprehension level. as you read the stories stop and talk to them about the pictures, pause before reading the last word in a rhyme and wait for them to fill it in. Dr. Suess books are great fun because they are both silly and repetitive.
Don't force letter recognition or writing skills, let it happen naturally. Many kids in Kinder do not yet know how to read or write their own names, some will not even know colors and shapes. Shocking I know, but i am a public school teacher, and have seen it over and over again. Keep in mind that I have always taught in low income schools. And if you are in a higher income community this may not hold true. But in my experience kids who have been exposed to lots of language and reading are the kids who excel in kinder and beyond. Don't worry about "teaching" your kids, relax. Sing, dance, read, and talk with your kids they will absorb plenty, when raised in a language rich environment!

Deanna - posted on 12/07/2009

My son started K this yr and he had to know his color count to 20 write his name (not in all caps) say and recognized letters in mixed order and numbers 1-10, shapes, say his address and phone #... the dollar store has books and flash cards and u can always make your own with some index cards sometimes u can find free printables off the internet .. and for the child thats stubborn.. you just need to find the best way she learns for example my son loves games so i made up games for him i tried that w/ me daughter and i failed so how she loves to sing i make up silly songs or rhymes that help her learn and that she can remember and the most important thing is consistancy whatever choice or material you decided on just keep it constent not that u need to spend the whole day teaching them of forcing them all day but like an hr everyday around the sametime everyday and you will see difference

Jaclynn - posted on 12/07/2009

You can go to alot of homeschool websites and print of works sheets that they do in pre-k and it is free... I hope this helped

Keri - posted on 12/07/2009

Try to make it fun for her. I bought pre-k activity books and flash cards from the dollar store and couple of times a day we would break them out and work on them. I made a chart and if she did the work she got a sticker. After so many she got a special treat (snack, later bedtime, time with just me, etc....) After awhile she was the one grabbing the book wanting to work on it. I worked so well that the summer between k and first we did it again. She still works on them during the school year but I let it up to her as a refresher or learn new stuff. Her first grade teacher wants all the students to have a vocabulary list of 250 words by the end of the school year and she is already past that workin on 10000.

Deborah - posted on 12/07/2009

I agree with Tessa Armes in that you should get them ready for social interactions along with all the educational things. Make all learning fun and reading everyday is great. As a teacher for 5 years (4th grade bilingual) before staying at home with my son, I would say life experiences also help a lot. Look in your area for low budget things to do such as museums or the zoo. Talking to them about everything you do such as getting them dressed in the morning to grocery shopping using numbers, colors and objects will help too. Even helping out with some chores a early as two can help you & them. Have them sort clothes by color, have them find the red apples in the store or when you are putting groceries away, counting how many you bought or just learning to put away toys in a basket. At their age everything is a learning experience.

Wendy - posted on 12/07/2009

I forgot to let you know about a website. There are alot of them out there with games and things even for preschoolers. Handwritingworksheets.com will allow you to put in there name and it prints it out in little dashes for them to trace over to help get them started. My son loved this because he could do this on his own. Very grown up LOL!!

Wendy - posted on 12/07/2009

As in the other replies each state is slightly diff. I live in Ga and here they have a lottery funded pre-k program. Some of the churches do private pre-k that is only 3 days a week for 1/2 day and they run about $100 a month. Head start is an option for some but not available for most. It has very strict income standards that are beyond the ridiculous. When my 8 yr old son is very stubborn like you describe your daughter to be. He wouldn't do anything for me but did pretty well for his teachers and she will probably be the same way. When my 8yr old went through pre-k they used a workbook from wal-mart as the class workbook. It is called Everything for early learning it is publiched by american education publishing. It has pages for everything that your daughters will need to learn. They will need social interaction skills also. The library here does storytime and so does Borders at the mall and some churches have programs that meet once every week or so for play groups. Go to your county website and most will have a community page with all kinds of helpful info. Also the Dollar Tree now carries the laminated wall posters with colors and shapes and numbers. Those can be very helpful. Make it a game and even bribe her if that is what it takes. Don't give up and let me know if there is anything else you have questions about. Also some schools over the pre-k program in the school they just don't advertise it.

Tessa - posted on 12/07/2009

I was a Pre-K teacher for four year before becoming a stay at home mom. Before I sent my students to Kindergarten I wanted them to be able to recognize most of the letters in the alphabet as well as know the letter sounds, be able to count object up to 10, recognize the colors and shapes, write their first & last name, rhyme, sort objects by properties (such as size, shape or color), and draw with details (a person with a head, body, arms, legs, face, hair, hands, fingers, feet, etc...)

I also believe that the most valuable experience for Pre-K kids is the social interactions. So, I would suggest finding a playgroup in your area so kids can interact with others. Make it a time to teach them about getting along with others, sharing, and resolving conflicts.

The absolute best thing that you can do for your child is read books together. Talk about about the story line, the pictures, the characters, the colors, the shapes, the letters, rhyming words,

A great way to get your children to recognize letters is to start with the letters in their name. They will begin pointing them out in their environment by saying "That's my letter." Then you say, "You're right. That a (insert letter here)." Eventually they will start to say, "There's my ____." Then, move onto to teaching the next letter in their name.

Writing can be taught in so many ways other than with a pencil. Begin by putting shaving cream on a table and both of you writing and drawing in it. Or fill a tray with sand do the same. They are both great sensory experiences and it's fun for your child. After your children develop more of interest in writing, get out the pencils. They will begin by writing with squiggles, then moving to letter like forms such as circles and then eventually to actual letters. As you teach your children to write their names, make sure to use capital and lowercase letters- not just capital letters. (example: Emily not EMILY.)

Most of all, HAVE FUN! I wish you all the best.

Lea - posted on 12/07/2009

I made it a game for my son to learn what he needed for kindergarten. When we were anywhere we could play a game identifying letters, numbers, colors. We would count cars. At home we would use toys or books or movies to do the same thing. Also you can go to your school district website and they should have a list of what is required for them to know and usually activities. My son is 5 started kindergarten this year and never went to Preschool. When he tested he knew more than what he was suppose to and can read and write now. We never pushed him, we let him go his own pace and made it fun for him.

Carol - posted on 12/07/2009

Wow, that's a lot to put on little kids - reading BEFORE kindergarten, phone number, address...??? Your children will not die or get "Stupid" tattoed on their foreheads the first day of school if they don't know everything before going to kindergarten. Kindergarten has definitely changed since you were a kid. They do teach reading and basic math like very simple addition and subtraction and skipping by 2's, 5's and 10's. The key word is the kindergarten teacher teaches it - not necessarily you before kindergarten. It is much, much easier for your kids if they have a basic understanding of how the words flow (left to right) and knowing the letters is certainly helpful. Counting at least to 20 by the time they get to kindergarten is good. There is a test that our schools in MA give to show where the kids are in their development. It involves knowing basic shapes; verbally repeating back a combination of up to 4 words, numbers, or letters; being able to construct a very simple structure out of blocks (like 8 blocks) that is identical to one the instructor does; finishing sentences (verbally) like "A fish is to water like a bird is to ________."; knowing their full name; drawing a face with details...and maybe a few other things. I don't believe they can turn a kid away regardless of how they do.

It is very easy to teach all these things before they get to school without shelling out the $1000's for preschool. Talk to your kids, read to them, play games with them. The dollar store is great for workbooks and crafts. The workbooks for very young just seem cruel unless they want to do them. Crafts and sports are important to help with eye-hand coordination and small and gross motor skills. Count things at the grocery store (we always skip count the eggs to 12 as we check them). Games like Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Bingo (swap numbers for shapes, colors, or letters sometimes) are great to have fun and learn. Socialization is a huge skill to learn so take them to the parks or join a playgroup. Teach them to share and take turns.

So much of what you probably already do is getting them ready for the day you turn them over to someone else. Just remember that YOU are their primary teacher from now until they leave your house at 18. Don't let someone's stupid comments (not from this board, I'm thinking "friends" or relatives) scare you into thinking that you're not enough.
I've got a couple of really stubborn kids too. Bribery or letting them pick out the next game has always worked.

Althea - posted on 12/07/2009

If you have a head start in your area the pre school is free. If you don't get online and look for other government funded programs in your area. Most of the time if they are funded by the government they usually have some type of sliding scale fee if they are not free altogther. But is you don't have anything like that in your area don't stress. Take your children to the park where they can interact with other children. and like the other mothers said you can teach them the basic things they need to know on your own. They have alot of pre k workbooks now even at the dollar store to help them learn ABCs, numbers and other basics.

Kerensa - posted on 12/07/2009

We found that by making a game out of just about anything will help them learn. We play the "color car" game on the way to run errands. We pick a car color and the first person to see one wins. The grocery store is great for learning numbers, colors, the difference between more or less, etc. (red or green apples; does that cost more, etc) We also play I SPY and "the alphabet game". At dinner we all have to say a word that begins with each letter of the the alphabet as we go around the table. We make sure and throw in some funny ones so they want to play. We also try to read as much as possible to them. I believe that helps more than anything. They are using their minds even when they don't think they are learning anything. I still love Sesame Street when my kids refuse to listen to anything that I may want to teach them. Don't stress about the preschool thing. We sent our son for 6 months and realized that he learned just as much from us without paying tuition. There is a website that we go to for projects for kids enchantedlearning.com. There is a $20 fee for a one year membership but I believe it is worth it. You can check it out before you buy a membership and I think you can even have access to a few parts of the site without one either. Good luck!

Cristina - posted on 12/06/2009

Hi, I used to teach preschool, and have a 19 month old baby that i plan to teach at home til he's ready for kinder, he already knows the colors and most letter of the alphabet, what I find very useful is to try and teach with everyday things, for example: if you go to the market have your child tell you the color of the things you buy, what the first letter of a word is teach her the sounds of the letters, ect. simple things to you but, great things to your child, also count things with your child, like how many apples you buy or how many chicken nuggets they eat. Read to her at night and have her follow with her finger as you read.
all a child should know by kinder age 5 or so, are as follow: full name last name, all the colors, at least the numbers 1-10, the ABC's, the shapes, their phone number, your names, if possible how to write their name at least if not all of yours. make up songs to help her see the numbers, colors, shapes in a different light.
Plus go to the library, there are tons of videos and books to help your child get started, all by having fun.
hope all this helps you. good luck.

Corina - posted on 12/06/2009

Wow what an elaborate bundle of comments for your simple question.

Once upon a time there was no kindergarten, then along came the chance for women to work so they introduced it to the system. Then there came junior kindergarten. I understand now that they are about to introduce Full Day Kindergarten. Preschool is just a fancy term for institutionalized Daycare. Dont worry if your children dont attend a Preschool.

The important thing is that you have the opportunity to share more time with your children and teach them what you believe is important for them to learn. Basics like colours, numbers, and letters, are great for them to know at an early age, BUT...dont worry if they dont know everything quickly. You would be surprised how many students have been pushed through the school system not knowing how to read properly, not to worry if you take your time with your children.

So if you take your time and read to them everyday they will pick it up. Even my 18 month old grandson has noticed that there are words on the pages of the books we read to him. Simple dollar store cardboard books and flashcards he loves to point and "at the moment" grunt at to ask what they are. He is so interested in these as they are presented to him regularly. He has just developed naturally a curiosity to learn just as any child has. Dont fret the small stuff.

As far as the stubborn child goes they are all that way with their parents at different times of life. Just continue to show them what you can do using simple drawings of shapes and writing letters on paper. Sooner than you think they will want to pick up a crayon to drawn something. Dont force it though just give them guidence with how to hold a crayon and let their hand hold it what ever way they want as long as they can get a grasp I wouldnt worry about the precision of it. The development of eye hand coordination is involved here so if you force them to draw straight or in a circle they will be likely to refuse to cooperate. Just let them scribble away until interest is shown.

There rest will follow.

Love Your Children while you have them home with you. Time goes by so quickly.

Coleen - posted on 12/06/2009

Both my kids went to head start and I had an ok experience there, I did not work for them but I spent just about every day there with the kids. I have since learned so much about education and learning styles and from what I believe, most of the schools are about funding, the grades, the attendance. I no longer believe in the schools educating my children and would only put them back in if it were their choice and I felt they could handle the pressure and obvious competitive nature that goes along with grouping children together by age and expecting them all to perform equal to each other. I have been homeschooling them for only 2 years now and wish I could take back the last 5 years. Children are born with the natural ability to learn, they learn to walk and talk, they learn to cry to get what they need and they learn how the world works just by living in it, experiencing it. They learn at their own pace and when they are ready to move to the next stage. Then all of a sudden we put them in school and tell them when to walk, when to talk, when to sit, when to stand, who is smart, who is not. The entire process is all about comparing each other and if you are not "average" than you are abnormal, need meds, considered LD, whatever it takes to make you normal and children are not allowed to be themselves. therefore producing a bunch of kids that have had to be everything they are not, just to fit in, if your different you are made fun of or compared by both the teachers and the other children and I had enough of the whole system by the time my son was in 5th grade. So glad I am free. Did you know you have the right to not have your children in school? Most people dont know that. I challenge anyone out there, especially if you are a stay at home mom, since you have already decided to put your childs needs first then you may want to start to look into homeschooling and especially books by John Holt they explain how children learn very obviously and have changed my life. Need info about homeschooling? circle of moms has an unschooling group that I am on and you can post and get information there. This is a challenge I have taken on to ensure my kids are getting the best option to grow up into healthy, whole people, who will be all that the Lord has made them to be and not some cookie cutter kid, beaten down by the system. If your kids don't know their colors or shapes by the time they are 6 or 7 who cares, when they need to know them they will learn them, they are not stupid just because the schools say they are.

Melissa - posted on 12/06/2009

Head Start is not just for low income families. They is a small fee if you can't get it for free. It is soooo beneficial for the kids. The Kindergarten teacher has stated on many occasions that you can tell which kids didn't go to Head Start of Pre-K because they are WAY behind. Most don't even know how to hold a pencil. The social aspect at this age is really important as well and getting used to leaving mommy and daddy for the day. Again, those who didn't have Pre-K have trouble letting go and cry often. If you absolutely have to keep your little one home, I would get together with other kids her age often and work on things such as holding a pencil, practicing letters and shapes. Kids need to know how to draw all their shapes in order to write their name I was told. Work on colors also and read often. I wish you the best of luck! ♥

Bridgette - posted on 12/06/2009

Hahaha yeah Head Start you probably make too much money to go there .To keep funding they need special needs children and have a school psychologist who works there tell you if for example they might be adhd. Been there worked there. My sister works there and cant get her kids in. I only made $6.28 for 4-5 hours. Teachers made eight dollars an hour then. May not be right for you. Never found a free 4 year old preschool they always asked our income. One dollar over to go to our district school around the corner.My children couldn't go to preschool(They are labled At Risk because of it). I wanna know At Risk of what being stupid? Other than that horrid lable and autism my son is ok with school. We will see if my girl is autistic when she gets there. When i can i do get those books from the dollar store the abc ,123, colors, shapes. Sometimes kids will do things for the teacher they wont do at home, One had my son eating salad for lunch.(I thought she was joking.)

Coleen - posted on 12/05/2009

I have a suggestion a little different from the norm. I am a homeschool mom and have studied how children learn through reading tons of books on the subject. May i suggest that you read a book by John Holt, found at the library, called how children learn. he has many other books if they do not have this one, sometimes they can call it in, but john holt had studied and worked with children for years and has alot of information that makes alot of sense. you could also contact me if you have any homeschooling questions

Shelley - posted on 12/05/2009

Do you have an education store close? They have tons of fun activities you can do with your kids on your own.

Ann - posted on 12/05/2009

Try seeing if she qualifies for developmental preschool. I know you said she isn't slow, but if she has deficiencies in certain areas and she qualifies, usually it is free.

Lindsey - posted on 12/05/2009

me either i just went to the dollar store and bought a lot of pk stuff and made a sticker chart and started giving rewards and my oldest 2 love it they ask me if they can do "homework"!

Good Day! - posted on 12/05/2009

Pre-school is more about learning social skills. You can check your state's standards or grade level expectations to see exactly what kids are suppossed learning in pre school and kindergarten. In my state they are posted on the board of education's website.

Other than that, make learning into a fun game instead of a "have to". Can you offer a reward for performing simple tasks? Maybe for each letter she copies (or whatever you are doing with her) you can put a penny or nickle in a jar. When you make a dollar take her to the dollar store. Schools use similar methods all the time. I had a sticker chart when I taught fourth grade. When a child got 10 stickers (for reading a book, making an "a" in conduct, etc.) they could go to my treat bag.

Many people do not go to pre-school. Kindergarten teachers know this and will work with the children to make sure they are all ready for first grade. If your child is being left behind in kindergarten then her teacher is not doing her job.

You and your child will be just fine. I commend you for working with her at home! Not everyone is willing to do this.

Judy - posted on 12/05/2009

most of it is fun stuff that you teach just by talking and reading. colors and counting make them games. Like I spy. For colors, talk about what color her clothes are as she gets dresses, what color the sky is or cars are, peoples eyes, hair. Count when climbing stairs. sing number song and nursery songs just when ever...like baa baa black sheep and the ABC song. They need to know their alphabet at least that way Preschooler are hands on. Teach them about play dough, finger paints, glue and scissors They don't have to make anything just create. Just having things available for their own imagination will prepare the stubborn one. Reading to them is SO important. With snuggling and reading at a special time it gives them an enjoyment and an understanding of how words flow. Dr Seuss' book are great for rhyming. Get them into a play group.....free. So they can learn to cooperate and play with other kids. Sharing, turn taking, sitting for short periods of time, listening, paying attention, and following directions are also important. They can learn those in a play group and at natural learning moments. Your little ones are still little. You don't want them to associate learning with being hard or not fun. Take lots of walks....talk, jump, skip, whirl. Have them pick leaves, look at stones, count birds, jump on one leg, bounce a ball, throw a ball. They will need to grow in their large and small motor skills to be ready for school not just their mind.

Sarah - posted on 12/05/2009

Many preschools will not turn someone away if they can't afford the fee. Headstart many times has a sliding fee. Christian preschools often times have programs where there are assistance programs set-up to help those that can't afford the fee. Here there is a state grant for many preschools for 4 yr olds, where it is free for the 4 yr old program for all parents no matter their income. I would suggest calling around and just finding out what options you may have. There were many things that I could do with my kids to teach them, but like yours they worked better when I was not the teacher and they had someone else teaching them.

Debi - posted on 12/05/2009

They will need to know all the primary colors, letters, write there name, know there phone number and address, how to tie there shoes, shapes, and basic words from sight...

You can make flash cards of sight words basic words maybe 5 a week and then at the end of the month review all of them again.. put post it notes on doors and windows and things that they see every day with what they are... They have a great book at walmart for preschool aged kids activity for each day... Both my kids could read before they started school and could spell, You dont need to send them to preschool... They will also need to be able to sit at a seat for a little while so try doing your "class work" at the same time every day and at a seat make it fun for them and they need to know how to share. My kids are 10 and 13 and A and B's and never went to preschool. I am a sub teacher now that they are old enough to be in school. Hope all goes well