{"id":3508,"date":"2026-06-10T14:07:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T14:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=3508"},"modified":"2026-06-10T14:07:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T14:07:53","slug":"how-to-help-your-kindergartners-prepare-for-school-during-the-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=3508","title":{"rendered":"How to help your kindergartners prepare for school during the summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

What can I do to prepare my child for kindergarten?<\/h2>\n

Is your child heading to kindergarten this coming fall? With longer days full of unfamiliar faces and new skills, it\u2019s only natural for parents to ensure their children are prepared.<\/p>

Read more Rain chances increase inland and along the coast, heat wave incoming<\/a><\/p>\n

To figure out the best way to help your kindergartner prepare for school during the summer, we consulted our baby and child expert, Dr. Aimee Ketchum. As a pediatric occupational therapist who also created the STEM Starts Now Digital Child Development Program, Ketchum knows what skills young children need and the best ways to teach them.<\/p>\n

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Skills every child should know before going to kindergarten<\/h2>\n

Even if you think you\u2019re behind in preparing your child for kindergarten, don\u2019t worry. Ketchum explains that parents have been getting their children ready for school since birth. By creating educational play spaces, reading to your child and instilling good manners, you\u2019ve been preparing them. Here are some other skills soon-to-be kindergartners should know.<\/p>\n

Soft skills<\/h3>\n

The most important skills for kindergarten readiness are the \u201csoft skills.\u201d Ketchum said, \u201cAlthough letters and numbers are really important, if a child cannot separate from the parent, they cannot even get through the door of the kindergarten classroom. Children should be able to be self-sufficient in leaving their parents. They should also have the self-care skills to put on their own coats and shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Social-emotional skills<\/h3>\n

Children learn social-emotional skills by interacting with other children. Things they learn from experience are how to take turns, empathy, considering others\u2019 feelings, language interactions and much more.<\/p>\n

Motor skills<\/h3>\n

According to Ketchum, \u201cchildren should be able to walk on flat feet, run, hop on one and two feet, kick a ball and throw and catch a large ball. They should also be able to hold a pencil with a three-finger grasp, write their name and shapes and color in the lines. Soon-to-be kindergartners should be able to snip with scissors and use a variety of tools in the classroom, such as gluesticks and rulers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Academics<\/h3>\n

While letters and numbers aren\u2019t necessarily the most vital skills for incoming kindergartners, it does help if they know the basics. A few academic skills they should know include:<\/p>

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