The first day of school in Rock Island and Milan is August 2, and the Rock Island Public Library wants to help you make sure your child is ready for Kindergarten.
The first day of school in Rock Island and Milan is August 2, and the Rock Island Public Library wants to help you make sure your child is ready for that first day of Kindergarten.
Ready, Set, Kindergarten activities will be offered in the Rock Island Downtown Library's children's department from 3:00 to 6:00 pm every Thursday in July. Each free drop-in program offers fun activities based on the 12 skills every child needs to know before entering Kindergarten. The self-paced activities helps parents and children build skills together, and be ready for that first day of school.
Nationally, about one-third of children do not have the skills they need when they enter Kindergarten, according to national surveys. Kindergarten readiness skills include:
- Writing
- Recognizing letters
- Knowing the beginning sounds of letters
- Recognizing numbers and counting
- Knowing shapes and colors
- Using fine motor skills - holding a pencil, drawing, etc.
- Cutting and using scissors
- Ready to read skills - games with rhyming, understanding that words go from left to right and top to bottom
- Paying attention
- Following directions
- Using words to express feelings
- Social skills involved in meeting new children