Well my oldest child is due to start kinder next year! Im excited but sad at the same time! I have wondered and still wonder if she is ready for kinder.  I think alot of parents go through this expecially because of conflict information by friends, family

and professionals.

Kinder program has changed since i was a child, we had 3 short days in total of 4.5 hours now these days consist of 10 hours a week either 3 short days or 2 longer days. In my day, there focus was primarily on the development of social skills.

Today its focused on more reading and writting skills and they do spend more time in there seat actually doing things where i remember mostly spending all my time outside playing.

I find this has a impact for what skills our children need before starting kinder where before it really didnt matter.

I think personalily these are the things that are important before starting kinder:

*Children need to be socially and emotionally ready. I think this is the most important part of being ready! Many can disagree but this is just my thought.

*Motor skills have to be somewhat there! some examples: Walking in straight lines, throwing a ball, catching a ball, drawing, colouring, cutting and maybe even starting to write!

*Cognitively and intellectually ready: I think of this as being basic things like colours shapes counting to ten and maybe some letter in the alphabet but mostly what there name begins with. I did read some where else they expect alot more like how a orange and a apple alike??hmm im not really sure that type question is that important as long as they knew what they where.

* Children need to want to learn and be curious and eager! Which every child is.....

I hope this could help some of you with deciding if your child is getting ready for kinder.

Part 2 will be what can i do to help them to get ready!