Parenting Archives - Pickens County First StepsPickens County First Steps

6 Everyday Ideas to Get Your Kindergartner Ready for Math!

3:20 pm

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Activities, Early Education, Palmetto Basics, Parenting, Summer School Readiness Series

Did you know that children actually come into the world “pre-wired” for math?

The little years are the very best window for introducing simple math ideas to young minds. These summer weeks leading up to kindergarten are a perfect time to blend math skills and conversations into everyday life. Best of all, we want to show you how to make it fun for you and your child!

Here are 6 simple ways to help your rising kindergartener get ready for math:

1. Count

Whether a child is only a year old or five years old, children love […]

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Why playtime matters for kindergarten + 12 everyday ideas for summer!

7:01 pm

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Activities, Early Education, Parenting, Summer, Summer School Readiness Series

We know it’s important for kids to get plenty of playtime and exercise, right? After all, young children have LOTS of energy. Moving their body provides a great outlet and helps keep them healthy.

But did you know that playtime and exercise are actually an important part of school readiness?

These large movements that a child makes with arms, legs, feet and their entire body are called “gross motor skills.”

While “fine motor skills”— like writing, sorting, cutting — may seem more obvious for kindergarten, perhaps you’re wondering why gross motor skills are so important. Other than […]

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How to Create a Kindergarten Learning Station in Your Home (in less than 5 minutes!)

8:03 pm

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Activities, Parenting, Summer School Readiness Series

We often take for granted the everyday skills a child needs when they begin kindergarten! School transition can be an even bigger adjustment for children who haven’t developed “fine motor skills.” (This is just a fancy term for use of hands.) Fine motor skills refer to the small muscles in our hands and fingers that are required to do big work every day.

Your child will need to develop the muscles required to color, cut, paste, and hold a pencil. Summer can be a great time to work on these skills and build muscles they’ll need […]

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Ready for Kindergarten: 3 Simple Ways to Work on Independence and Responsibility at Home

11:24 pm

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Parenting, Summer School Readiness Series

Your child’s new kindergarten routine will require personal responsibility, new listening skills, and the ability to finish tasks. If children haven’t been used to taking ownership of simple tasks at home, school can be overwhelming for them as they adjust.

The good news is that summer is a great time to begin practicing!

Young children actually take great pride in being able to do things by themselves. They are usually able to take on more responsibility than you think; it’s simply a matter of giving them opportunities to practice.

Though it might be quicker and less stressful […]

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5 Simple Ways YOU Can Help Your Kindergartner Learn to Love Books!

8:51 pm

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Literacy, Parenting, Summer School Readiness Series

You probably know that books somehow matter in getting your child ready for school.

But you may not understand why.

After all, if children are going to learn letters and sounds in kindergarten, and if they’re going to eventually learn to read in school, why do books matter so much before they begin kindergarten?

Last week we talked about the importance of words in a young child’s brain. The more words they hear, the richer their “word bank” becomes. You want to fill up your child’s word bank as much as possible by the time they start […]

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7 Simple Ideas for Exploring through Movement and Play (and why your child’s brain needs it!)

12:00 pm

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Palmetto Basics, Parenting

Young children are born “movers.” A child’s first 12-18 months of life are filled with exciting “movement milestones!”

– Learning to raise her head and look around

– Raising up his torso while having tummy time on the floor

– Flailing tiny arms and kicking newborn feet during diaper changes

– Rolling over, scooting, and crawling

– Taking those first wobbly steps

– Learning to run, fall, and get back up again

And that’s just the beginning of a young child’s relationship with movement and play!

There’s a reason young children have boundless energy and are wired to move. Science shows […]

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