I thought there was a ton my kids needed to know before Kindergarten, turns out I was totally wrong!
My second little baby is off to Kindergarten this year. It will be my second and last time to walk into a classroom of any kind for the first time, nervous and emotional as hell.
If you scroll through Pinterest or do a quick Google search, you’re likely to see plenty of articles giving you an enormous list of things your kid needs to know before they enter Kindergarten.
There are printable checklists, workbooks to get them ready and resource after resource that makes your stomach turn because you think, oh my gosh my kid is nowhere near ready!
I want you to breathe a sigh of relief.
Because your kid doesn’t really NEED to know any of those things except for one.
Should they be able to tie their own shoe?
Nope. Kindergarten teachers are understanding that most cannot and besides, most of the time last year my son had some pretty sweet velcro Nike’s.
Should they be able to open their own juice box or Lunchable?
Well, it will save them some time for sure, but there are plenty of cafeteria helpers for the Kindergartners that will help them with opening things.
Should they need to be able to use scissors?
No. This is something they will learn for sure and if they know how before they start? Great.
Should they know how to hold a pencil the right way?
No again. I really struggled to help my little lefty hold his pencil the right way but it was difficult. I decided to just let him do it how he felt comfortable and through the year he slowly developed a much better, correct hold. He most certainly did not need this mastered before he started school.
Should they know their address and phone number?
Nope. If something happens and the school needs to call you they’re going to look it up in the directory. It’s something all kids should learn but is not at all necessary for starting Kindergarten.
Should they be able to identify letters?
No. I read an article saying kids need to be able to identify all lower and upper case letters. This is exactly what they will be learning in Kindergarten not before Kindergarten. Again, is it great if they do know their letters? Sure. Necessary? Not at all.
With all of these things, they are great skills to have but are in no way needed to begin.
Which brings us to the one thing you should be working on in preparation for Kindergarten:
Wiping your own butt.
Teachers have a lot of responsibilities, and wiping all 20 kids butts every time they potty shouldn’t be one of them. If you pick anything to spend your summer teaching, it’s butt wiping skills. (I have a great article right here with tips on teaching them how.) Plus, wiping kids butts is one of the easiest ways for your teacher
Would it be fantastic if your kid new all 101 ready for Kindergarten skills? Yes! These lists are great to use as goals and a wonderful source of information for things you can choose to work on.
But if you are panicking when you think of all the things your kid doesn’t know yet, don’t. They will still fit right in and have an awesome first year of school either way.
Liz is a just a mom trying to keep it real about how little she sleeps, how often she gets puked on and how much she loves them. You can find her here every day writing about real-mom moments.
Renee says
You are so right! Especially about the butt-wiping part 🙂 My oldest son entered kindergarten ahead of the game, he was a quick learner and absorbed everything like a sponge. My youngest son is finishing up kindergarten this week, and I was so nervous when he started. Leading up to it, he had almost zero interest in anything that required a pencil…he didn’t really care to learn the alphabet…things like that. His teacher assured me that no matter how much or little they know when they start kindergarten, that most students end up in the same place academically by the end of the year. He has come such a long way, his handwriting is excellent, he’s reading at level D, he’s become a social butterfly, and he can’t wait for first grade! So yes, concentrate on good bathroom hygiene!
Diego Lopes says
Wow, kindergarden. That takes me back. Very thoughtful article on what it takes to send your kid to school for the first time.
Gclub says
Thank you for the information that has given us a lot of new knowledge that the website has for us. It is a great website that has the highest quality and complete knowledge.
Gclub-royal1688 says
A good website with quality like this is very good, so there are many new knowledge that makes understanding the image better. Everything is fine. Thank you. This lovely website is a knowledge that we can’t really miss.
fnaf security breach says
Kindergarten, wow. I’m brought back by that. This article about what it takes to send your child to school for the first time is quite meaningful.
Isabel Toa says
My daughter is heading off to kindergarten next year so as you said yourself, I thought I was just going to be reading another post about alllll the things I need to do to prepare her. NOPE! Thanks for making me laugh out loud and ease my anxiety about what I actually need to focus on so she’s ready for her first day. So glad I found you!
logan jenkins says
When our children start to walk and then enter kindergarten, is the moment we know our children have grown, however, parents are always worried and concerned about their children.
parkour block 3d says
Im no expert, but I believe you just made an excellent point. You know exactly what you’re talking about, and I can totally agree with you.
dasadda2 says
Renovation services offer a refreshing change to existing spaces. Whether it’s revamping an outdated interior or reconfiguring rooms to better suit our lifestyle, remodeling breathes new life into our homes or offices. Renovation services provide opportunities to enhance functionality, improve energy efficiency, and incorporate modern design trends. From updating electrical systems and plumbing to installing energy-efficient fixtures and appliances, these services bring about positive transformations. Moreover, renovations can increase property value, appeal to potential buyers or tenants, and create a more enjoyable and comfortable living or working environment. https://experttoday.pro/heating/duct-services/
slope says
The event looks like it would be fun, so I will make plans to go
rixy says
Interesting games are waiting for you on the site to play online fanduel, great gaming emotions and the best games are waiting for you on this site to play online really impressive site where it is so cool and comfortable to play online and eymorvino fun and wonderful to play here quality and enjoyable games online from which I only want to play more!
Green Leather Jacket says
Wow it’s wonderful. Keep update with new blogs.
CapCut says
After reading this article, I’m even more impressed, please do check my website and I love this baby food recipe…
TikTok Video Downloader says
After reading this article, I’m even more impressed, please do check my website and I love this baby food recipe…
pinoytvflixhd says
They might be considering YouTube Vanced as a modified version of the standard YouTube app. It offers features like ad-blocking and background playback, which could enhance their viewing experience.They may be weighing its pinoytvflix benefits compared to the official app’s limitations.
pinoyhdflixreplay says
We have a large number of team members who work on pinoyhdflixreplay.su that’s why you will able to watch your Pinoy hdflixreplay tv show on time
MineCraft says
Hello what a nice post.
HillClimbRacing says
Superb excellent and nice thinking
SnapsTik says
Wow I am so much inspired by you
SSSTikPro says
Nice to be here
VidMate says
Hi anyone here who visits it.
Winzo Gold says
I am so much excited to always win.
pinoyteleserye says
Welcome to Pinoy Teleserye
Ennovelas says
Watch and share Ennovels Series
Leather Jackets says
I think this is a really good article. You make this information interesting and engaging.
steampunk coat says
WOW!!! Just found your blog. THIS IS AMAZING!!!!
Paavi says
Yes, I think I will try it.
mrdineshkumar676 says
Based in New Delhi, Aggarwal Associates specializes in a broad spectrum of corporate law services. From company incorporation and compliance to contract negotiation and governance, the firm offers comprehensive legal solutions tailored to the needs of startups, SMEs, and multinational corporations. Their expertise extends across various Corporate Law Firm in India industries, including technology, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Aggarwal Associates is renowned for its proficiency in handling mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, and strategic alliances. Their team of experienced attorneys conducts meticulous due diligence, drafts watertight agreements, and ensures smooth regulatory approvals, enabling businesses to execute transactions seamlessly.
Pullo Willey says
This post made me laugh and totally nod along—wiping their own butt really is the one essential skill! 😂 On a side note, if you’re documenting these big milestones like the first day of Kindergarten, CapCut is amazing for turning those moments into sweet little memory videos. It’s free, easy to use, and perfect for busy parents. I’ve made a couple back-to-school clips with it and they came out adorable! Also, capprocutapk is providing mod version of the capcut app for those who want even more editing features unlocked.