School and Academics

Lay the Groundwork for Reading, with Concepts About Print
Want to begin teaching your child to read, but don't know where to start? Begin at the beginning, with something teachers call "concepts about print". If you can get your child comfortable with this ever-important skill set, she'll be ready to roll when school begins.
Kindergarten Summer Reading List
We've combed the shelves for brand new titles that will turn your child on to reading, and make for a wonderful summer together. Here are our favorite kindergarten summer reading picks.
Lay the Groundwork for Kindergarten Reading Success
According to experts, there are three major things that prepare children to read. Want to know what they are and how to incorporate them into your child's day? Read on!
Kindergarten Lingo: 10 Important Terms Every Parent Should Know
Modeling. Assessment. Phonemic awareness. Every world has its lingo, and kindergarten is no different. Here's the scoop on some common kindergarten lingo, so you'll know what the teacher's talking about, when she throws some terms your way...
Social and Emotional

Alternatives to Threats (Age 5)
With a defiant 5-year-old, we all snap and make threats, but you'll probably regret them later. Here is a handy chart of what you want, and how to say it better.

When Twins Start School: Separate or Together?
With the first day of kindergarten right around the corner, you're feeling uncertain. Should you separate your twins and send them to different classrooms? Or keep them together under one roof?
How to Talk About Safety with a Kindergartener
As a caring parent, you strive to be a good protector and teacher. You walk a thin line between exposing your children to life's possibilities and protecting them from life's burdens. When your child is between the ages of 5 and 9, your job is to empower him to be both careful and confident. That ...
Get Set for Kindergarten...With These Books!
Kindergarten is a big transition. And it can be hard, especially in the beginning. Getting a child geared up for kindergarten before they cross the threshold, paves the way for a successful year. But how can you do it, especially when your own heart is pounding in your chest?
Milestones and Development

Kindergarten Cooking: What Kids Learn
When kindergarteners help out in the kitchen, they're learning math, science, and reading. But they're also learning social skills, by working together to make the meal, sitting down together, and helping to clear their plates when they're finished.

Developmental Delays: When You Sense Something Wrong
As reluctant as your child's teacher may be to admit it, there are a few milestones teachers see as possible indicators for learning disabilities. Here's a list of red flags to look out for in kindergarten.
Child Development Guide: Five to Six Years
Developmental Tasks To learn to distinguish between reality and fantasy. To become comfortable with own gender. To make connections and distinctions between feelings, thoughts, and actions. To solve ...
Routines: Getting Your Kindergartener Out the Door
Is it possible to get a kindergarten kid out the door without losing your sanity? Absolutely, say the pros! Here's advice for making the morning routine easier, from several professional organizers who also happen to be parents.
Recent Questions
Our Essential Kindergarten Gift Guide
Fun Learning Ideas
- Must-See TV for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners
- Kindergarten Science: What to Expect
- Math for Kindergarteners: Getting to Know Numbers
- A Parent's Guide to Phonics
- How a Kinder Thinks
- Academic Preschools: Too Much Too Soon?
- Lay the Groundwork for Reading, with Concepts About Print
- Are Today's Kindergartens Anti-Boy?
- Kindergarten Math: What Happens April - June?
- Recent Research on All-Day Kindergarten
Great Gift Ideas

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