Home School Blog

Entering kindergarten is a major milestone, not only for young children but also for their families. Many parents wonder what “kindergarten-readiness” truly means and what skills their children should have to succeed. For homeschool families, this can be especially important, as parents are both primary educators and caretakers. 

It is recommended that children master some specific skills, such as counting to 50, knowing the alphabet, and being able to identify numbers 1-20. Download AOP’s Kindergarten Readiness Assessment to complete an in-depth assessment, so you’ll feel confident your child is ready to start kindergarten. However, preparing for kindergarten goes beyond learning the alphabet or counting to 50—it encompasses a broad range of skills that support a child’s overall growth. 

Let’s explore the key areas of development that help prepare children for a smooth transition to kindergarten in a homeschool setting.   

1. Developing Social and Emotional Skills for Kindergarten Success

Kindergarten readiness often begins with social and emotional skills. For homeschool families, developing these skills at home involves intentional practice and patience. Here are some essential social and emotional skills to foster in your child:

• Self-regulation: This is the ability to manage strong emotions and impulses. Teaching children to take deep breaths, communicate their feelings, or take short breaks can help them regulate emotions. Reading Bible stories about patience and kindness can also reinforce these values.

• Taking Turns and Sharing: Consider engaging in playdates or church activities where your child can practice turn-taking and sharing. Simple games, board games, or cooperative tasks can also support these skills at home.

• Expressing Needs: Encouraging your child to use words to express needs or ask for help will foster independence and confidence. Role-playing scenarios can help children practice expressing themselves respectfully and confidently.

• Following Directions: Building the habit of listening and following simple instructions will help prepare children to respond to guidance and routines in more structured learning environments.

2. Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscles in the hands and fingers and are essential for tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, and manipulating small objects. These skills don’t develop overnight, so practicing them in a homeschool setting can give children the time and support they need to grow.

• Pre-Writing Skills: Give your child time to scribble, draw, and experiment with holding crayons or markers. Start with thick crayons or markers, as these are easier for little hands to grip. Allow your child to explore lines, circles, and shapes before focusing on writing letters.

• Scissor Skills: Cutting with scissors helps strengthen hand muscles, improves hand-eye coordination, and prepares children for tasks that require dexterity. Provide safe, blunt-tip scissors and let your child practice cutting along lines or through materials like playdough.

• Building and Manipulating Objects: Building blocks, puzzles, and small toys like LEGO bricks offer excellent fine motor practice. Activities like threading beads or picking up small objects with tweezers can also enhance finger strength and precision.

Build your child’s fine motor and academic skills with the LIFEPAC Kindergarten Launch Pack, which includes counting bears, flashcards, a color/alphabet chart, and more. 

3. Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills involve large muscle movements and are crucial for overall physical development and coordination. Homeschool families can make these activities fun and incorporate them into daily routines or outdoor play.

• Balance and Coordination: Encourage your child to participate in activities that develop balance, such as walking on a balance beam or hopping on one foot. Simple exercises like jumping jacks or even playing catch can support coordination.

• Core Strength: Running, climbing, and swinging on playground equipment can help develop core strength, which is important for stability and posture. Even a simple game of Simon Says that includes exercises like reaching for the sky and bending down can promote physical readiness.

• Spatial Awareness: Engaging in games like hopscotch or relay races teaches children spatial awareness, a key component of gross motor skills. Knowing where their body is in space helps children navigate classrooms, lines, and playtime activities safely.

4. Language and Communication Skills

Developing strong language skills is foundational for reading, writing, and effective communication. Homeschool parents can use faith-based resources and conversational methods to make language skills part of daily life.

• Listening Skills: Storytime is a wonderful way to build listening and comprehension skills. Read aloud from a variety of books, including Bible stories, and encourage your child to discuss the stories, ask questions, and predict what happens next.

• Vocabulary Development: Expand your child’s vocabulary by introducing new words in everyday contexts. Describing household tasks, naming colors and shapes, or identifying emotions are simple ways to enhance vocabulary in a natural, conversational manner.

• Expressive Language: Encourage your child to talk about their day, describe their favorite toys, or share their thoughts on different subjects. This will help them practice putting thoughts into words and using descriptive language, a vital skill for later learning.

Support your child’s early literacy with the Horizons Kindergarten Phonics & Reading Reader Set of four companion readers with a combined 160 fun phonics-focused short stories.

5. Early Math and Number Skills

Basic math skills lay the foundation for a positive relationship with numbers and problem-solving. These skills are essential for kindergarten readiness and can be developed through play, everyday routines, and faith-based learning activities.

• Counting and Number Recognition: Counting objects during play or daily routines, like counting blocks or counting steps, reinforces number recognition. Flashcards or simple counting games also make learning numbers engaging.

• Pattern Recognition and Sorting: Create simple patterns using objects like colored blocks, then ask your child to identify and replicate the patterns. Sorting items, like grouping similar-colored toys, develops logic and categorization skills.

• Basic Measurement and Comparison: Engage your child in simple measuring activities, such as comparing lengths, weights, or amounts. For example, ask which cup holds more water or which toy is taller, teaching them to observe and compare objects.

Explore the Horizons Kindergarten Math Student Worksheet Packet, part of the Horizons Kindergarten Math Box Set or sold separately to build early numeracy skills. 

6. Foundational Literacy Skills

Pre-reading and writing skills prepare children for literacy by teaching them to recognize letters, sounds, and concepts of print. Homeschool families can weave faith-based learning and literacy together to make reading a joy from a young age.

• Letter Recognition: Begin with letters that have personal significance, like those in your child’s name, then gradually introduce more letters. Using tactile methods, such as sandpaper letters or playdough, can make this experience more engaging.

• Phonemic Awareness: Introduce letter sounds using songs, rhymes, or alliterative phrases. This can also be tied to Bible verses or stories, which offer both moral lessons and opportunities to practice letter sounds.

• Concepts of Print: Show your child how to hold a book, read from left to right, and turn pages. Modeling reading during family devotions or Bible study provides an excellent opportunity to introduce these foundational skills. 

Build your child’s early literacy skills with the Preschool for 3s Bible Story Reader, which includes 40 of the Bible’s best known and loved stories.

7. Self-Help and Independence Skills

Being able to complete simple tasks independently fosters confidence and resilience. Homeschool parents have the unique opportunity to practice these life skills within a familiar and supportive environment.

• Dressing and Undressing: Practice skills like buttoning, zipping, and putting on shoes. These tasks help children gain independence and confidence as they learn to care for themselves.

• Eating and Cleaning Up: Encourage your child to use utensils, pour drinks, and clean up after meals. This not only supports fine motor development but also instills a sense of responsibility.

• Using the Bathroom Independently: Ensure your child is comfortable with bathroom routines, including washing hands, flushing, and knowing how to ask for assistance if needed.

Explore Horizons Preschool for Threes Complete Grade Set curriculum with interactive lessons that focus on academic, social, emotional, and motor skills building. 

8. Curiosity and Love for Learning

Finally, fostering a love for learning and curiosity about the world around them is perhaps the most important kindergarten-readiness skill of all. Homeschool parents have the freedom to incorporate nature walks, science experiments, or Bible studies to teach children that learning is an exciting, lifelong journey.

• Encouraging Questions: Show your child that asking questions is a natural and exciting part of learning. Create a safe space for curiosity where your child feels free to explore and wonder.

• Making Learning Fun: Engaging in hands-on projects, games, or art activities builds a positive attitude toward learning. Celebrate your child’s progress and efforts to reinforce that learning is rewarding and enjoyable.

Preparing your child for kindergarten at home involves nurturing a variety of skills that go beyond academics. By focusing on social and emotional growth, fine and gross motor skills, language, early math and literacy, self-help abilities, and a love for learning, homeschool families can ensure that their children are not only kindergarten-ready but also eager to embark on their educational journey. With patience, love, and a faith-centered approach, you can help your child thrive as they step into this new chapter of learning.

Get your child ready for kindergarten socially, emotionally, and academically with the Horizons Preschool Curriculum Grade Set.