Now that my daughters are hitting second and third grades, I look back on my days as a new kindergarten mom and practically laugh my head off. The needless worries that went through my head: Do I need to work with them on writing? Should they know all the basic math things?
No, first-time kindergarten kids don't need to be spelling and math pros — despite what some high-powered helicopter parents and profit-seeking private tutoring companies might bully us into buying these days.
Back then, I had a hunch I was letting myself fret over falsities regarding how much 5-year-olds really need to know by the first day of kindergarten. So, I set out on a hunt for the truth — from real teachers in the trenches. One teacher told me, "Running a kindergarten class is like trying to keep a bunch of kittens in a line, while cooking three different things on the stove." (No thank you.)
Here's a sampling of true-life answers about what kindergartners should really know how to do from educators among us. (And, yes, they asked to remain anonymous.)
Incoming kindergartners should know how to:
1. Zip and/or button their own pants
Potty time during class time happens often when there are 20 to 30 kids. Can you imagine how time-consuming and challenging it is for a teacher to pause everyone's attention because little Jeff can't pull up and fasten his own shorts?
2. Close the bathroom door and flush the toilet on their own
Also, since we're on the potty topic, how to effectively wipe themselves — particularly when they go No. 2.
3. Identify their own last name
"You'd be surprised how many kids don't know their last name in kindergarten … it's shocking. This is a most basic life and safety skill," one teacher dished to me.
4. Recognize letters and numbers
Teachers are good with taking things from here, as long as this basic skill is ready to go.
5. Sit and listen to a book being read to them
"Behavior is very important and parents should be reading aloud to their child every night — not only for the love of books and reading, but so their children can also 'practice' their listening skills and learn to show respect for someone who is reading to themm rather than getting up and walking away, like some kids will do."
6. Put things in the trash can
For example, disposing of a tissue they just wiped their nose with or a paper towel they just dried their hands with. Bonus tip: NO BOOGER-EATING ALLOWED. According to one teacher I talked to, "Booger-eating is not self-expression or child experimentation, like I had one parent try to tell me a few years ago. It’s a parent's job to teach kids what's clean, what's gross, what you can and can't do in public. And yes, a 5-year-old is capable of understanding basics like that."
7. NOT climb up the playground slide when kids are at the top of the slide ready to slide down
Apparently, this drives many teachers nuts, only because it's a playground safety issue and can cause serious injury should heads collide.
8. Engage in eye contact
"It's OK to remind your child, 'Remember to look at me when I talk to you, and look at your teacher when she talks to you too.' Social skills start in kindergarten and they are just as important as academic skills."
9. Learn the teacher’s name and to know that part of being in school involves actually calling their teacher by that name as opposed to yelling, 'Teacher!'
Kids know all the names of each Disney princess, all the lyrics to "Baby Shark," and every detail when it comes to Paw Patrol, so they can definitely learn one name before school starts.
10. Show respect for others, including saying 'please' and 'thank you'
So, yeah, counting, writing, and sounding out letters are always appreciated, but these unconventional requests apparently help our kids' very first teachers out in ways most of us probably can't even imagine. I mean, they’ve got enough random issues to deal with, which I'm guessing takes extra energy from their primary goal to teach as well as our kids’ ability to learn.
We hereby promise to heed your tips, your requests, your wishes for preparing our kids for all things kindergarten — because none of us could do what you do — that's for sure.
