Beginning kindergarten is a very exciting time for children and families.

FIRST 5 Santa Clara County wants all children to be ready to succeed at school.Families should use the following guide to help prepare children to be ready for kindergarten in the fall.






Make reading a priority.

• Research shows children who read with their parents enter kindergarten better prepared.
• Visit your local library for free age-appropriate books.

Vaccinate before it is too late.

• According to California law, children must enter kindergarten with up-to-date immunizations.
• An oral health check-up is also required during a child’s first year of public school.

Practice basic skills.

• Practicing basic skills can help ensure that children are comfortable in the classroom.
• Help children practice writing their names and using crayons, paints and scissors.

Encourage decision making.

• Give children choices to teach responsibility.
• Have children choose their outfits and healthy snacks each day.

Bring up the subject of school and visit the school.

• Discuss with children the activities they should expect in kindergarten.
• Visit the school and become familiar with the new surroundings.

Set a schedule.

• To help ease a child’s transition, set a schedule at home that closely resembles his or her school schedule.
• Don’t forget your Kindergartners’ “Fuel for School:” a healthy breakfast and 10-12 hours of sleep each night.

With your help, the new world of school will be a fun adventure and positive experience for your child and your family!

For more information on kindergarten enrollment dates and preparing your child for school, contact FIRST 5 Santa Clara County at 408.260.3700.

Reading Together: Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child Who Loves to Read

by Diane W. Frankenstein
http://www.dianefrankenstein.com

1. A child’s desire to learn to read comes from being read to.
2. Enthusiasm and passion for stories are contagious. Don’t waste precious time trying to convince your child of the importance of reading—just read them good stories.
3. Children need confidence to be good readers and confidence comes from understanding a story.
4. Be creative and find other times in a day—not just bedtime—when reading can happen. How about a poem with breakfast? How about a short story with a snack? How about one chapter with dessert at dinner?
5. A child’s reading will improve the more they enjoy reading.
6. Conversations are where children first learn many of the skills they need to learn to read. Talk with children about the story, the pictures, and their reaction to the book.
7. Offer children books that speak to both their reading level and their developmental readiness for the story.
8. Expect your child to love reading and support that expectation by helping them find their “home-run” books—books that tap into their curiosity and interests, stories where they care about the characters and what happens to them.
9. Keep the love of story alive. While your child hones his/her reading skills, encourage him/her to return to the picture books and early reads he loved when he was little—you are never too old to read a 32-page picture book!
10. Don’t interrupt the reading of the story with explanations or editorials. A child can easily become annoyed and frustrated with too many interruptions.
11. Slow down. Encourage your child to read fewer books and know