Kindergarten is an exciting milestone for your child, filled with opportunities for growth and learning. You’ll be amazed at how much progress they make during this first year of school. Support your child by boosting their confidence and celebrating their successes—your encouragement can foster a lifelong love of learning.
This year, there will be a strong focus on mastering letters, sounds, and words. It’s thrilling to watch as your child begins to read and write, especially when learning becomes a part of everyday activities both at home and at school. Encourage language fun by playing word games, singing songs, and reading together to help their vocabulary grow.
In math, your child will start building key skills, and there are countless ways to make learning numbers enjoyable at home. Keep in mind that every child learns at their own pace, and educational standards may vary between schools and districts. It’s okay if your child doesn’t hit milestones at the exact same time as others—what matters is that they’re learning and enjoying the journey.
Letters and Sounds
“Reading with your child at home not only fosters a love for books but also supports their academic success,” says Susan Quinn, a reading specialist and elementary school teacher. Sharing stories together strengthens your bond, creates enjoyable moments, and helps develop essential skills like focus, concentration, and an expanding vocabulary.
The Little Scholars Academy offers a dynamic and engaging program for young learners. The curriculum is crafted to nurture children’s growth through social interaction, imaginative play, thoughtful discussions, and hands-on experiences. Recognized as one of the top preschools in Chicago, Little Scholars Academy provides a well-rounded daily schedule that includes free play, interactive learning activities, and plenty of outdoor fun. Additionally, the preschool organizes educational field trips every two months to enhance children’s learning and provide real-world experiences.
It's always better to start them on easier books, because then they feel successful, and that spurs them on, so they'll read more.
Encourage your child to write short, simple sentences like “The dog jumped high.” Create a dedicated space at home with writing supplies such as crayons, markers, pencils, and paper to inspire daily writing. Ask your child to jot down sentences about things they’ve seen or done, then have them read their work aloud to you. Show support by proudly displaying their writing on the fridge or in their room to celebrate their creativity and progress.
At this stage, children will develop the ability to recognize, write, and count numbers up to 30. They will also learn to add and subtract small numbers, focusing on sums of 10 or less and subtracting from 10 or less. This foundation in basic addition and subtraction will be built upon in the following grades, continuing through second grade, to strengthen their math skills and problem-solving abilities.
Numbers and Counting
Encourage your kindergartner to search for numbers from one to 30 in magazines, newspapers, or even on street signs. Have them cut out the numbers, glue them onto paper, and arrange them in order. While in the car or waiting at a store, play a game called “What comes next?” by giving your child a number and asking them to name the next number. At bedtime, ask your child to count their toys or objects, such as stuffed animals, and challenge them with questions like, “How many cars do you have?” or “Can you count how many books are about animals?” You can also play subtraction games by removing a few items and asking, “How many are left?”
- Children at this age will begin to identify, write, sequence, and count numbers up to 30.
- Children will learn to add and subtract small numbers, working with sums up to 10 and subtracting from numbers up to 10. This emphasis on basic addition and subtraction will continue to be a focus through second grade.
- Children will explore how to recognize and name basic shapes like circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles. They will also develop the ability to identify, sort, and categorize objects based on attributes such as color, size, and shape.
Support your child in grasping the concept of time by mentioning the time during daily activities. Use and explain terms such as morning, noon, afternoon, evening, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. You can create a timeline together to illustrate a typical day, including simple drawings of key events, such as waking up, eating meals, and going to bed, with the corresponding times written below each event. This will help your child visualize the passage of time and better understand the order of their daily routine.
In addition to learning about time, 5- and 6-year-olds can also identify the four seasons. Create a weather calendar to track the changes throughout the year, helping your child understand how the seasons transition. Use pictures that represent each season, like colorful leaves, snowflakes, and blooming flowers, and talk about the changes your child notices. Discuss the different clothes you wear in each season, making it fun to explore how weather and clothing are connected.
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