Kindergarten is a big year for kids to learn and do new things and gain several skills. It is in the kindergarten that kids begin to learn the basic skills they require in the coming days. From reading, and writing the alphabets to learning the basics of math – these are a few things that kids learn in kindergarten.
Starting Kindergarten is itself a huge milestone for all kids and their parents. And once the kids are in kindergarten, parents wonder about how to measure their skills.
Every kid has their own learning capabilities and understanding patterns. Today we provide you with 5 general learning checkpoints and milestones that will help you assess your kid’s learning capabilities.
Recognize Numbers and Letters
By the end of Kindergarten, the kids are able to recognize names, and write all 26 alphabets, both in upper and lower case. While the kids don’t need to master the alphabet, many kindergartners can associate sounds related to the alphabet.
Similarly, kindergartners are also able to count to 10, correctly, and consistently. Children should be able to connect the written form of numbers 1 to 5, with the correct number of objects. The ability to count is however a relatively complex skill for kindergartners.
To help the kids with recognizing numbers and letters correctly, make it a game. Ask them to point out alphabets and challenge them to identify the numerical digits. In this way, they will learn pretty fast and will remember for a longer period of time as well.
Be Able to Tell a Story
Kindergarten pupils spend a lot of time working with stories. They listen to stories, create their own stories, and read their stories as well. When your kid is in kindergarten, they should be able to tell a simple story with identifiable beginning, middle, and ending.
However, they will not be able to tell longer and complex stories, but even the shorter stories by them have a timeline. Being able to tell stories is a major learning checkpoint of your kindergartner. The kids can begin by telling their daily activities like ”Today I …..” or Yesterday we ……”.
Identify Patterns and Shape
Identifying colors, shapes and patterns are very critical for the kids to understand the basic concept of mathematics. By the time the kid is about to leave the kindergarten, he or she should be able to recognize and name the colors and shapes, comfortably.
Kids will learn how to name and describe common shapes like circle, triangle, square, and rectangle, and also classify them based on color, and size.
Kindergartners are also able to follow and recognize their daily life patterns with ease. Like, knowing to brush teeth before having breakfast, and brushing teeth before going to the bed, etc.
Keep their daily routines consistent so that they can learn quickly and with ease.
Communicate Clearly
By the time your kid is in kindergarten, they are likely to start talking in sentences. While they cannot form long sentences but they can talk in a complete sentence of five to six words.
However, they can understand longer sentences in the conversation as well. They are likely to use words to argue, try to reason with people, tell stories, crack small jokes, talk about opposites, and compare things as well.
These communication skills help the kids to become socially active and giving them the ability to strongly communicate with their peers. Additionally, effective communicators feel more confident speaking up in school.
Understand the Concept of Time
It has been a misconception among many parents that ”understanding time” means that their kids can tell the time. But, understanding time here means that the kid can understand the broader concept of time and tell the difference between “now”, “before”, “soon”, “later”, “today”, “tomorrow”, and “yesterday”.
A lot of kids can also know that the adults use watches to check time – however, they cannot tell the same by themselves.
The Bottom Line
All children develop at different pace and if your kid does not show all these milestones, then it absolutely is no big deal. You can help the kid accelerate their learning by playing word and number games, practice conversations, and reading stories for them.