:: Parent Tip Sheet #1 » ::
Transition to Kindergarten: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

:: Parent Tip Sheet #2 » ::
Home Is a School Zone, Too!

:: Parent Tip Sheet #3 » ::
First Steps: The Years Before Kindergarten.

:: Parent Tip Sheet #4 » ::
Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten: A Checklist for Parents and Families

:: Parent Tip Sheet #5 » ::
The Importance of Reading to Your Child

:: Parent Tip Sheet #6 » ::
What to Expect of a Kindergartener

:: Parent Tip Sheet #7 » ::
Before the First Day [For the Children]

:: Parent Tip Sheet #8 » ::
Entry Requirements [How to Fulfill Them]

:: Parent Tip Sheet #9 » ::
Helpful Hints from Kindergarten Teachers [For Families of Four-Year-Olds]

:: Parent Tip Sheet #10 » ::
Before the First Day - Organizational Hints for Parents

:: Parent Tip Sheet #11 » ::
Getting to School Safely

:: Parent Tip Sheet #12 » ::
The Final Days—Tips for Final Preparation and Drop-off

:: Parent Tip Sheet #13 » ::
Developmentally Appropriate Practices

:: Parent Tip Sheet #14 » ::
Communication Between Parents, Child, and Teacher

Other Information for Families and Parents

:: School Readiness: Starting Your Child
Off Right » ::

:: Being an Advocate for Your
Preschool Child » ::

:: Books for Children » ::
One way to help young children prepare for the transition to kindergarten is to read them books about starting school. The following list includes many of these types of books, which you can find at your local library or bookstore. If you find other helpful books that are not on our list, please use the Idea Sharing button to tell us about them so we can add them to this list. Also, ask your librarian if there are any other books he or she recommends.

:: Ten Ways to Participate in Your Child's Education » ::

:: 80 Skills to Help Ease Kids' Transition to Kindergarten » ::
This chart reflects the results of a survey of 4,500 kindergarten teachers and represents the ideal skills at kindergarten entry. Children should not be expected to perform every skill. This just gives parents and preschool teachers a target to aim for.

:: Annotated Bibliography » ::

Delaying Kindergarten Entry
Often parents and other family members question whether they should delay a child's entry into kindergarten for a year because of their child's relatively young age or lack of maturity. This is often referred to as "academic redshirting."

The links below provide the latest information on academic redshirting. The articles give many points for consideration when deciding to delay school entry for your child.

:: What's Wrong with Edward the Unready? [4.1mb] » ::

:: Academic Redshirting of One Kindergarten Boy [3.4mb] » ::

:: Opportunity Deferred or Opportunity Taken: An Updated look at Delaying Kindergarten Entry [7.5mb] » ::

:: Academic Redshirting and Young Children [2.1mb] » ::

 
This information was obtained from the Terrific Transitions website. For further information about this topic or other topics related to Head Start, please visit the website [will open in a new window]:

:: terrific transitions » ::