Photo by Tim Hacker/ Mesa Public Schools
Ready, Set, Go
Begin talking to your child about going to school.
Visit the campus to meet the teacher and see their classroom. At the same time, pick a meeting spot, and attend an event to help your child feel at ease.
Schedule playdates and opportunities for your child to interact with other children and adults.
Create a task chart together. Having simple jobs at home builds responsibility, self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
Talk About A, B, Cs and 1, 2, 3s
Help your child notice numbers, shapes, letters and words everywhere you go. Provide opportunities for your child to count, measure and compare.
Read, read, and read some more. Take time to ask your child questions, allowing her to retell the story in her own words.
Practice language by singing songs, reciting poems and talking about the world around her.
Get Those Little Bodies Moving
Play school by having your child draw, trace, color, use glue and scissors and write her name.
Play various house activities, like cooking and laundry, to build fine motor skills, such as scooping, pouring, stirring, sorting and matching.
Play following direction games, like Simon Says, to get her running, jumping, climbing, walking in line and skipping.
Practice everyday tasks, such as buttoning, snapping, zipping, tying, washing hands and putting things away. Providing opportunities for your child to manage her personal life skills will help build confidence in her new setting.
For more information about all Mesa Public Schools, please visit mpsaz.org.