Kindergarten Readiness - Independent Navigation of Environment

When our children are babies and toddlers, we do so much for them. They require so much attending and care since they are too young to do and care for themselves. As parents, we often see them as more dependant than we should. There is so much a two-year-old can learn to navigate their environment independently. It is at the age of two that we as parents can encourage independence and self-care. Children are starting school earlier now, either at two or three years old. They are exposed to and learn so much quicker. Their brains are sponges. Most children want to do it for themselves. Some may need additional modeling and practice, but the earlier you start, the quicker they will adapt. It’s important to remember as a parent that we are not raising our kids for us; we are raising them to go out into the world.

Three critical words to know and apply in teaching pre-schoolers consistency, structure and repetition.

Kindergarten has changed considerably over the last few decades. There are expectations for social, emotional, and behavioral skills in Kindergarten beyond academics. The increase in expectations is due to children attending pre-school earlier and acquiring academic and social skills in pre-school. To navigate the current kindergarten curriculum, children are expected to have a certain level of independence.

Teachers are required to cover more curriculum with less playtime. There are more tasks and swift transitions required throughout the day. Kindergarten is more serious now, requiring a different level of performance. To ensure your child’s success fostering independence in self-care, communication, self-regulation, and tasks are necessary. Of course, it is an asset if your child knows their letters, recognizes words, colors, shapes, and writes. All the skills below can be developed and encouraged in your home by allowing your child to take a more active role in meeting their own needs and helping the family.

The following skills are for independent navigation of the classroom:

1. Takes responsibility for belongings. Unpacks and packs up (lunch box, backpack, jacket).

   • Able to dress self
   • Transitions to different activities and tasks throughout the day and adjusts to the situation.
   • Attend to an activity/task for at least 10 minutes and stay with the activity or task to completion.
   • Uses words to solve problems or conflicts.
   • Asks for help and asks questions when uncertain what to do.
   • Follow one and two-step oral directions.
   • Talks in sentences and uses sentences that include two or more ideas.
   • Waits turn to play with toys or games.
   • Tries to regulate emotions properly and articulates feelings in words. Demonstrates increasing self-control.
   • Works cooperatively (listens to others, shares and take turns).

All these skills fall into these skill categories:

• Attention and awareness

  • listening
  • Social communication skills are the use of language in social contexts. It encompasses social interaction, social cognition, pragmatics, and language processing.

  • Self-control/self-management

  • cognitive flexibility

  • self-care

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https://www.socialmindcenter.com/autism-mind-discover/2021/4/15/top-10-skills-for-kindergarten-readiness