Getting ready for school, especially transitioning to Kindergarten, can be a stressful experience for young children. They’re not only taking on a new role as “student,” but also adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings, new routines, and expectations. For some, it may be the first time away from their parents. Heading to school in the fall can be overwhelming for kids of all ages. Thankfully, there are many ways to ease this transition. Helping children develop key skills ahead of time can make a big difference. To support families, The Jim Henson Company and PBS KIDS offer fun, engaging activities that make getting ready for school easier and more enjoyable, especially with the help of beloved characters like those from Dinosaur Train! Here are a few of their helpful suggestions:
Practice reading and speaking
Practice reading and speaking. Help your child practice the letters of the alphabet while learning, speaking and singing about the diversity of dinosaurs that once lived on Earth with the “Dinosaurs A – Z song.”
Learn about colors
Help your child understand, investigate and make predictions about the science of color, using household basics including food coloring, clean food jars/containers, colored markers and a cookie sheet.
Develop fine motor skills such as coloring; cutting; drawing; buttoning; zippering; building.
With Buddy’s help, you can practice some of these skills while making a Stegosaurus Puppet.
Practice gross motor skills such as running, jumping and throwing.
Try “Playing Dino Ball Your Way” to improve these skills–and get some exercise too–by inventing the rules for an imaginary game and then playing it!
Explore size and scale.
Using illustrations and physical markers, kids can measure out size differences in large dinosaurs to understand their size and scale! Check out the activity “Even Bigger than T.rex!” at the following link and have some fun while learning about size.
With some preparation and support from familiar faces like the Dinosaur Train crew, getting ready for school can become a fun and confidence-building experience. By practicing simple skills and routines in advance, children can feel more comfortable and excited about what’s ahead. Whether it’s their first day of Kindergarten or just a new school year, turning learning into play can make all the difference.