Here are a few playful family ideas to give your child the best beginning for preschool, kindergarten and beyond through family home activities.

Crawl

Purpose To show babies and toddlers that learning and reading are fun family activities.
Play Experts agree that the single best way to prepare your child for school is to read to her. Start with colorful and sturdy board books. Babies are especially drawn to rhyming stories. Let them hold the books and turn the pages. Pick a comfy chair and include stories in your bedtime routine.

After they’re past the chewing-and-drooling stage, graduate to larger picture books with paper pages. Experiment with animated voices — really roar like a lion and squeak like a mouse. Your efforts will result in giggles and hugs, not to mention a lifelong love of books.
Plus Don’t forget about your baby as his big brother or sister heads off to school in the fall. Even the youngest family members sense schedule changes and first-day jitters. Keep little ones from feeling left out by telling them what’s happening and showering them with extra affection.

Walk

Purpose To reduce anxiety about starting school.
Play Whether your child is naturally outgoing or a little more reserved, they’ll be comforted by a friendly face on the first day of school. Find out the names of a few classmates and arrange casual play dates in the weeks leading up to school. Check your school’s office to see if they’ll provide contact information for the entire class. If so, invite everyone to meet for an hour or two on the school playground one Saturday to get acquainted. This is the perfect excuse for mom and dad to make new friends too!
Plus Many wonderful books have been written about starting school. Here are a few great ones; your librarian can help track down more:

  • The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
  • Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate
  • Tiptoe Into Kindergarten by Jacqueline Rogers
  • Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
  • Oh My Baby, Little One by Kathi Appelt
  • First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg 

Run

Purpose To get your child off on the right foot for fall.
Play Kindergarten teacher Tracy Turner-Wolford tells her families to spend the weeks leading up to school focused not on academic or social issues but on practical ones. Have your child practice putting on his coat and shoes at home before he’s challenged to do so in a crowded hallway alongside 20 classmates.

Another issue is potty time: If you’ve been helping in the bathroom, ease up to make sure he’s got the entire process — including snapping pants and washing hands — down pat.

Also take this time to foster responsibility. “I feel strongly that kids should be able to take care of their own belongings,” says Turner-Wolford. “If you take something out, put it away when you’re done. This is key in a kindergarten classroom, but it starts at home.” She says giving your kids daily tasks such as setting the dinner table is a great way to work on accountability.
Plus Nothing builds anticipation for school more than picking out a backpack and other school supplies. Don’t leave your child out of this exciting rite of passage by doing the errand on your way home from work. Make a special day out of shopping for these items, topped off by a lunch date with Mom.


Rebecca Kavanagh is contributing editor of START, EduGuide's early childhood publication written for families with children ages 0-5.