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is developmental and may not happen until later in the school year.%u201d Until then, select shoes that kids can put on independently. Teaching MomentsEveryday activities can be turned into kindergarten teaching moments. Schuzer suggests dinner prep as a perfect opportunity. %u201cAsk about the colors of food you are preparing, what letter the color words start with and the sounds they make,%u201d she says. Use setting and clearing the table as a chance to practice responsibility.Play age-appropriate games at home to practice skills like taking turns, winning and losing gracefully, problem solving and strategic thinking.ReadingThe importance of reading cannot be overstated. %u201cReading aloud is so beneficial for young children, especially as we identify new letters and sounds,%u201d says Schuzer. Johnson adds that parents should also be %u201ccaught%u201d reading. %u201cChildren need to see adults reading books, magazines or newspapers versus only seeing them scroll on devices (even if you are technically reading).%u201dSocial SkillsSocial skills are important life skills that children will continue to develop as they grow, but it starts now. Give kids opportunities to speak to adults when ordering meals at a restaurant or checking out books at the library. Talk about respectfulness of people%u2019s feelings and possessions, and how to include children (who may be less adept at joining in) in playtime.Don%u2019t empty your child%u2019s backpack at home. Teach children to remove papers from their folder every day and place them in the same designated spot. Teach them to put lunch boxes in the kitchen or containers in the sink. %u201cChildren are capable of following rules and routines at school, so it shouldn%u2019t be any different at home,%u201d says Johnson. It is also a child%u2019s responsibility to make sure everything is in their backpacks before they leave in the morning. %u201cMy least favorite statement from students is %u2018My mom forgot to put it in my backpack,%u2019%u201d says Johnson. Self-SootheSelf-soothing (or self-calming) is a critical skill that builds emotional resilience at any age, but it%u2019s particularly helpful for children in a room of 20 kindergarteners. By the age of 5, typical kids should be able to avoid tantrums when they are frustrated. %u201cBig feelings are OK, but not if that transfers to hurting others or impeding others from learning,%u201d says Johnson. Schuzer has a feelings chart that her students complete each morning. %u201cStudents start the day by moving their assigned number to the color that matches their mood.%u201d Schuzer includes coping buckets near the chart that are based on mood color. Each contains appropriate snacks, stuffed animals and fidget toys. %u201cThroughout the day, students can visit the feelings chart area for five minutes before returning to work,%u201d she says. %u201cWe all need a break sometimes and this area offers just that!%u201dBooksto Get Kids Excited for Kindergarten* Kindergarten, Here I Come!by D.J. Steinberg* Getting Ready for Kindergartenby Vera Ahiyya* On the First Day of Kindergartenby Tish Rabe* KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day by Vera Ahiyya* Clifford Goes to Kindergartenby Norman Bridwell* How to Be Confident in Kindergarten by D.J. Steinberg* The 12 Days of Kindergartenby Jenna Lettice* I%u2019m Going to Crush Kindergartenby Sonica Ellis* Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie SilvestroAlaskaParent.com fall 2025 alaska parent 33