Transitioning to kindergarten is one of the most critical points for learners in their educational journey. It can impact their experience in the school setting and set a positive or negative tone for years to come. Developing skills in areas such as social-emotional learning and communication are essential. So are physical skills. This includes fine motor skills. Fine motor skills use the small muscles in our hands and wrists and support the ability to write and do other activities.
According to the South Dakota Statewide Family Engagement Center, some simple skills that early learners can work on before starting kindergarten include:
- Trace shapes, including circles, squares, triangles, and crosses.
- Stacking up to 12 blocks
- Cut with scissors, including straight lines, curved lines, and simple pictures.
- Writing their name, which includes any letters in their name, using a mature grasp (tripod or two fingers plus thumb) to write.
It is important to remember that these skills are not required before an early learner starts school. Instead, they are skills to be worked on in preparation for kindergarten.
These and other kindergarten readiness skills can be found on the SDSFEC website.