If your child is headed to kindergarten in the fall, you can get a jump start on making their transition to kindergarten as smooth as possible. Here are 8 easy steps you can take to help prepare your child for kindergarten.
1. Register your child for kindergarten before May 31, 2019.
If your child will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2019, they are eligible to enroll in kindergarten. You can follow the School District’s step-by-step guide to find your neighborhood school and collect the forms you need. Make sure to register your child before May 31, 2019 to secure your spot at your neighborhood school!
2. Gather the documents you need to enroll your child.
As part of the registration process, you’ll need a few documents, including one that proves your child’s age, two that verify your address, and an immunization record. The School District of Philadelphia’s website has a list of the documents you will need to have.
3. Make sure your child has the required immunizations.
In order to register for kindergarten, your child will need certain immunizations. You can check the immunization requirements here. Schedule any doctor’s visits you may need to make before the May 31, 2019 registration deadline!
4. Attend a kindergarten open house day
Make sure to check out Open House Day on March 5 and Open House Week from March 6-10, 2019. Check the School District of Philadelphia’s kindergarten registration page to find out more information on open houses.
5. Talk to your child’s teachers
If your child attends pre-K, make sure to check in with their teachers to ask how your child is doing in school and if there are any skills they need to work on for kindergarten. Also, many pre-K programs provide kindergarten transition plans for their students; check to see if your school has a plan in place for your child.
6. Establish a routine
Establish a routine before the first day of school. Make sure that your child will be getting enough sleep and that you and your child will have enough time in the morning to get to school on time every day. Create a backup plan for getting your child to school, just in case! Read by 4th has some great tips on how to make attendance a priority!
7. Help your child build kindergarten skills at home
The Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC) has a great, easy-to-use guide on how you can prepare your child for kindergarten at home. This guide also has a checklist, so you can determine which skills your child could use extra help with!
8. Get your child excited about kindergarten!
Talk to your child about kindergarten, the transition, and everything they have to look forward to! Talking about this exciting change will prepare them to make new friends and enjoy the new experiences that await them!
Bonus tip: Enroll your child in quality pre-K!
Quality pre-K is proven to help children show up ready to learn on the first day of kindergarten. If your child will be 3 or 4 years old on September 1, 2019, and you live in Philadelphia, then your family qualifies for PHLpreK. PHLpreK is the City’s no-cost, quality pre-K program. Sign up for enrollment alerts to make sure you’re the first to learn about when seats open up!
