What Words, Colors, Shapes, Etc Should My Child Know Before Kindergarten?
I have a 4 year old getting ready to enter Kindergarten this summer and I want to know what types of things he needs to know such as what shapes, list of words, what colors, and things as such. Help!!! Should he know how to read full sentences?
Calm down mommy! I live in Florida, and attached you will find the PDF file for our standards. All children are expected to know this information prior to K. Good luck. Let me know if you need further assistance.
I agree with the pp. Kids develop at different rates. But, I totally understand how you are feeling as I was thinking the same thing with my first child.
I know how stressful it can be.
I taught a 4 year old preschool class and the majority of the kids could count to 10-20, recognize most letters and numbers, knew most letter sounds, knew basic shapes/colours, and could write their name. The ones who couldn’t do all of this have caught up in Kindergarten (I know many of the parents.) Preschool is for socializing (teaching children how to get along with their peers) and for getting ready to be able to sit in a longer circle time (where they do a lot of their learning.) I am in Canada, so perhaps it might be different than the states? Where I am, the concept of “learning Through Play” is huge.
I do have to comment on the reading a full sentence. The answer is, “No.” Where I live, Grade 1 is when the reading really takes off. I know many Kindergartens do teach reading, but keep in mind that children are at different levels. Some may be ready while others are not.
I hope this has helped to ease your mind.
I think the child’s knowledge of these things should be fixed before age 4, but here are things you should work on:
Shapes—circle, square, triangle, heart,rectangle
colors—red, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, brown
Numbers—0—-10 by sight; 1—-50 rote memory
General info; full name( not nickname), age, mom and dad names (not mommy and daddy), phone number and address,birth date.
concepts: up, down, in, out,on, off, sit, stand, eat, sleep, run, walk, wiggle.
Body parts (correct names) head, eye, ear, cheeks, mouth, teeth,ankle, nose,elbow, arm, chest,legs, feet,thigh, buttock and each of the appropriately named private parts.
You should work on listening skills. The attention span is shorter than older children, but try a time span shorter than his favorite cartoon.
Following 1 step directions.Ex. Bring me the book. Sit on the chair.
Please work on language expression. At this age child should be using complete sentences to express his needs. Send some time watching their kid programs to get a take on the level of language and concepts they are being exposed to daily.
your child should know all basic colours shapes and words