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Kindergarten Reading Worksheets

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video showing how child to adding things

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With the busy schedules of extracurricular activities, children have fewer opportunities for unstructured free time. Learn why and how to protect your child's down time.

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So much is expected of children today. We expect them not only to make good grades, but also to be well-liked by classmates, physically adept, computer literate, and to shine in a particular area, such as music or dance.

Extracurricular activities often begin in the preschool years. It's common for three- and four-year-olds to take ballet, gymnastics and even a martial arts class, frequently going directly from school to after-school appointments, without the chance to rest in between.

Benefits of down time

The physical body requires time to rest and restore itself, and the amount of rest children need varies. One child may require a half-hour between activities to feel refreshed; another may require an entire evening.

Stilling the mind during periods of quiet results in increased ability to focus one's attention and concentrate. Children who are constantly bombarded with input often have difficulty keeping focused in classroom situations.

Most creative individuals-artists, writers and inventors-regularly spend time in meditation or periods of reverie. These periods often precede bursts of creative connections and ideas.

During quiet times, we are able to reflect and get to know ourselves. What do we think about certain issues? What are our feelings about individuals and situations? Spending time alone, we get to know the most important person in our lives, our own selves.

Children need time to daydream, to imagine alternate futures for themselves. Daydreaming allows us to fantasize about what we might be, without the consequences of actually taking action.

Restoring quiet

Here are some suggestions for restoring a natural rhythm to busy days:

Refuse to schedule anything that conflicts with the family dinner hour. This should be a sacred time for sharing and support.

Limit extracurricular activities to one or two during the school year (depending on your child's age), and let your child choose the activities. If necessary, cut back on one weekly commitment, even if your child objects at first.

Allow your child some down time after school. Let them talk on the phone with friends, have a snack, or listen to music before beginning homework.

Skip the extracurricular activity when your child comes home from school tired or has to study for a test.

Periodically schedule weekends with absolutely nothing planned.

Turn off the television and take an unhurried bike ride or hike in the woods.

Allow your child plenty of time before a family vacation to plan and dream about it, and time off afterwards to reflect and remember.

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So much is expected of children today. We expect them not only to make good grades, but also to be well-liked by classmates, physically adept, computer literate, and to shine in a particular area, such as music or dance. Extracurricular activities often begin in the preschool years.

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It's important for caregivers and teachers to know they're appreciated. Giving thanks also provides a wonderful opportunity for your child to learn this important social skill.

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Child care and teaching are notoriously underpaid and under-appreciated professions. People who stay in the field often do it for the personal satisfaction it brings them. Being told how important they are to a child and his family, in a thoughtful letter, note, or other presentation, can contribute greatly to job satisfaction. (And it's not a bad thing to keep in a teacher's or caregiver's portfolio for job-hunting or references, either.)

Acknowledging caregivers and teachers is not just a once-a-year thing. Thank them throughout the year. Depending on your situation, it may be a nice thing to do or say something appreciative for a birthday, Valentine's Day, or the end of the school year-and in between.

Involve your child

To many working parents this may seem like just one more thing to squeeze into a busy day: one more errand. But showing appreciation is important to everyone involved. Not only to the caregiver or teacher whose day will be brightened by a caring gesture, but also to the child who will see how much it can mean to someone to be recognized for their effort and good work.

Children love being recognized themselves. From a very early age, children love to be acknowledged for their own accomplishments-and this is an essential part of blossoming into adulthood. But they also need to be on the giving end of this process. Taking the time to acknowledge the important caregivers and teachers in their life is an excellent way to develop this habit. Yes, habit. Don't you want your child to be someone who sincerely expresses thanks to those around him? This is something to be learned young; preschool isn't too early.

You might bring up the subject with your child and see where it goes: "Wouldn't it be nice to do something for Miss Davis to show her how much we appreciate her?" Brainstorming, you and your child may come up with a letter, a store-bought card with a personal note (always a personal note, the longer the better), a picture created by your child, or even a gift.

What to give

"It's very nice to be appreciated but it doesn't have to include a gift," according to one seasoned teacher in a recent chat room discussion on the subject. Many other teachers e-mailed to agree. A sincere, glowing letter of appreciation for the work the caregiver or teacher does is something both you and your child can work on together. You can compose a letter together, or two separate ones, from your individual perspectives. You can write them longhand or print up a computer copy and then embellish with stamps, collage, or copies of your child's photos.

Still, you may decide that, for your situation, a gift is the most appropriate way to express thanks. That's much more easily accomplished when you know something about the caregiver or teacher's life. But how much do most parents know about their child's caregiver or teacher? Many prefer to reveal very little, which can result in 20 or 30 boxes of stationery and candy. You're most likely to pick up clues in a family child care arrangement. But even then, it is difficult.

One thing you can be pretty sure of, your caregiver or teacher can always use carefully selected children's books, toys, or classroom supplies. These might include art supplies (markers, colored papers, paints), sandbox toys, or balls. Head to the art store, classroom equipment store, or office supply shop for inspiration or a gift certificate.

If your child has a favorite book that you read together every night, buying a copy for the caregiver to share with all the children is both thoughtful and practical. But to be on the safe side, you might say to the caregiver, "We'd like to get you a book to read to the kids. We were thinking about Goodnight Moon. Or would you rather pick another one you know the kids would like?"

Another way for you and your child to make this a joint project is to make cookies or other goodies for your caregiver, teacher, or classroom staff.

The teachers who get 20 or 30 small gifts every year would probably be thrilled with a group gift. It may be a lot of work to organize every parent in the class, but even banding together with a few you know can result in a nice-size gift certificate to a department or book store.

Some centers have policies about teachers accepting cash from parents (either forbidding it or limiting the amount). But it's a different story for nannies. In some communities, a year-end cash bonus is customary and in others, gift certificates or just plain gifts are more popular. To find out what other families do, talk with other parents in your community and ask at nanny agencies.

Thanking teachers and caregivers for the good work they do for our children can enrich everyone's lives.

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Child care and teaching are notoriously underpaid and under-appreciated professions. People who stay in the field often do it for the personal satisfaction it brings them. Being told how important they are to a child and his family, in a thoughtful letter, note, or other presentation, can contribute greatly to job satisfaction.

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When you let your children prepare or assemble their own food, they gain a sense of accomplishment and may even acquire a taste for a greater variety of foods.

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When sandwiches are on the menu, I often send the unassembled ingredients to the class for the children to make themselves. The Head Start teachers I work with always thank me. Making their own sandwiches gives children a practical opportunity to use and develop their fine-motor skills.

Watching thousands of young children eat in their classrooms over the years, I have noticed that children eat better when they make their meals themselves. With a bit of planning, you can set up foods station at home and give your budding gourmet the chance to express their food preferences and practice emerging skills.

Self-serve food stations

Many foods can be topped with nutritious ingredients that can be set out in small bowls or divided containers. Here are some food station ideas:

Salad station. Allow them to add the veggies they prefer: mushrooms, tomatoes, radishes, etc.

Veggie burger station. Provide an array of of condiments and toppings

Baked potato station. Let them add fixins' such as veggies, shredded lowfat cheese, sour cream, chili

Pizza station. Top flat bread or english muffins with toppings such as veggies, cheeses, tofu, chicken or other meats

Cereal station. Let them mix in the following with hot cereal, cold cereal or yogurt: chopped nuts, raisins, or fruits such as bananas, berries and peaches

Kid-friendly plates and utensils

Ensure your child's make-it-yourself success with kid-sized plates and utensils. Kid-proof equipment will give you with reassurance and help minimize the mess. Your local restaurant supply or variety store is sure to have some fun and useful additions to your kitchen inventory.

Pint-sized pitchers: The perfect container for juice and milk, and with lids, they minimize mess. Tiny stainless steel pitchers work wells for syrup and sauces, as do "honey bears" and squeeze bottles.

Spoons: Select spoons small enough for your child to easily transfer food from bowls to plates, but large enough that it doesn't takes too long to serve a portion. Generally a suitable size is a bit larger than a soup spoon.

Small tongs: The ideal utensil for picking up shredded vegetables and cheese.

Knives: Butter knives work better than table knives for spreading.

Involve your child in cooking or assembling food

Even young children can roll their own burritos and make their own sandwiches. From cracking eggs to washing lettuce, children can participate in meal preparation in many ways. Always supervise your child and be sure to set and enforce the necessary safety rules in your kitchen. Forget about perfect presentation and let your kids enjoy wonderful learning opportunities and feel great about their contribution. In a few years, your child just might turn into a well-trained sous chef!

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When sandwiches are on the menu, I often send the unassembled ingredients to the class for the children to make themselves. The Head Start teachers I work with always thank me. Making their own sandwiches gives children a practical opportunity to use and develop their fine-motor skills.

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1-Keep it kid-friendly.
2-Keep it cheap
3-Set the ground rules ahead of time.
4-Set a good example.
5-Remember the essentials.
6-Make it special.

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There are few things more enjoyable than taking a young child to a play, a musical performance or the ballet for the first time. Children's awe at the spectacle, and the look of wonder on their faces, is worth much more than the price of admission.

For such an outing to be truly worthwhile, it's important for children to know what they can expect-and what's expected of them-when they attend a performance. With some advance instruction and a few simple guidelines, introducing your child to the performing arts, and perhaps instilling in him a lifelong appreciation of cultural events and activities, should be successful.

1. Keep it kid-friendly. For a young child's first cultural experience, choose an outing that is almost guaranteed to be successful, like a trip to the public library for the weekly puppet show or a shorter concert specifically geared towards children. At outdoor events, it is usually more acceptable if kids are a bit noisy, and you have the option of leaving whenever you are ready. Choosing a show appropriate for young children will give your child an opportunity to learn to pay attention, behave appropriately and, most of all, enjoy a performance.

2. Keep it cheap. You don't have to spend a fortune on a Broadway show to have a hit on your hands, and it is probably better to work up to such an event. Choose a performance on a college campus, a local high school play or a local ballet school's holiday performance. If your child's attention span wanders after the first act, you won't have invested your whole month's entertainment budget on the price of admission. After a few successful outings, you can spring for something bigger and more expensive.

3. Set the ground rules ahead of time. A week or so before you go, begin talking to your child about the performance you are going to attend. Describe what you expect to happen, and tell your child the behavior you expect of him. Say something like: Remember when we went to Mary's dance recital? We had to be quiet and pay attention so the dancers could concentrate, and the other people there could hear. We'll have to do that at the play we're going to attend.

4. Set a good example. If you expect to teach your child to be quiet and respect the performers on stage, you also have to teach him to respect the audience around him. The best way to do that is to set a good example. If you choose age-appropriate plays or musical performances for your grandchild, you should be able to give a brief explanation beforehand and then explain the nuances after the show.

5. Remember the essentials. Visit the restroom ahead of time with your child to avoid having to get up just as the curtain is rising. Pack a small, non-crunchy snack or treat in case your child needs a bite before intermission.

6. Make it special. In planning your outing, add another element to make it extra-special. For example, combine attending a musical with a stop for ice cream afterwards. Be sure your expectations of your child's behavior are realistic since you don't want the occasion to become punitive. If your child is tiring after two acts and there are still two to go, the wise thing to do is leave early and still go out for dessert. One success will lead to another, and before you know it, your young child may be begging you to take him to the symphony.

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There are few things more enjoyable than taking a young child to a play, a musical performance or the ballet for the first time. Children's awe at the spectacle, and the look of wonder on their faces, is worth much more than the price of admission.