Unlocking Expression: Fostering Communication Skills in Kindergarteners

Apr 22

I get asked by lots of parents — "Is my child ready for kindergarten?” And I completely understand the concern. Starting kindergarten marks a big moment for your little one, and as a parent, you're right there, experiencing this exciting part of their early childhood learning.

Let's dive into the nitty—gritty. Check in with your preschooler and yourself and ask:

“Does my child know how to do these things most of the time?”

“Can they learn these new skills before kindergarten kicks off?”

Communication Skills: Does your child speak in complete sentences?

👉Typically, we want kids speaking in complete sentences when they enter kindergarten. They don’t need to read or write in complete sentences, but speaking in complete sentences should be a goal!

👉 This looks like “I need scissors to cut this.” versus “want scissors” or “My friend bumped their knee outside at recess.” versus “knee hurts”.

Can they express their needs and wants?

👉 Language skills are so important to support your child’s future learning and set them up for success in the kindergarten classroom. This includes things like asking to use the bathroom or chatting on the playground about games they want to play with friends. It's crucial to feeling secure during the school day.

Is your child able to make comparisons or connections?

👉 Can your child compare objects or make connections to things around them?
💡 When you’re out in the world, say things like “Ohhh! Does that dog remind you of another dog we know?” or “This pizza is just like the one we ate the other day, don’t you think? What makes these pizzas so similar?” You’re also building up their vocabulary here!

Can your child describe things?

👉 If your child can describe things in their world using a few adjectives, this shows they’re really becoming excellent communicators!

👉 If you asked your child to describe their favorite teddy bear could they say something like “My teddy is brown, soft, and has big paws!” or if you asked your child to tell you about Grandma’s house could they tell you something like “Grandma’s house is really big! And there are a lot of flowers in her yard.”

💡 When practicing how to describe the world around them, start with really fun, familiar things! Have your child describe things like their favorite toy, food or place to go.

💡 Weave this into your day—to—day conversations. Ask things like “I love my shirt. It’s green, has white stripes and long sleeves. Can you tell me three things about the shirt you’re wearing?”

💡 Playing I-Spy is a great way to work on describing things! “I Spy with my little eye something that’s red!” Bonus reading game: I spy with my little eye something that rhymes with PLEASE! It’s cheese!

Let me share with you the heart of what really counts for your child to be set for kindergarten. Check out the next blog post in this series.

For more tips and insights to nurture lifelong learners, hop over to my Instagram page.

And, don't forget to explore episodes on the podcast, Play On Words, where you’ll hear more about making learning fun and accessible for all.

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I’m the founder of BCR, host of the Play on Words podcast, a consultant for the Chicago Public Library, and more! On the blog, I regularly share my tips, insights, and knowledge on early literacy.