Milestones to Reach Before Kindergarten

While parents everywhere are familiar with the term “milestone,” we know that talking about their child’s development can sometimes be a source of anxiety or concern. For that reason, we do our best to discuss children’s milestones delicately while also accounting for each child’s unique development over time. From social, cognitive, physical, and academic perspectives, milestones can be used to mark children’s progress and growth, and also provide some insight into where they should be. Milestones are not rigid standards that must be met by a particular age, and it is important to remember that every child develops at their own pace. If a child does not reach a milestone right when they are “supposed to,” this should not be an immediate cause for concern. However, discussing milestones with your preschool or child care provider can still be a great opportunity to track the progression of your child’s development.

At STEM Child Care, our directors and teaching staff are highly knowledgeable in child growth and development, and we developed our proprietary STEM-focused curriculum, learning environments, and daily schedules to ensure that each child continues to thrive and excel intellectually. Before reaching Kindergarten, we feel that most children will hit significant milestones in the following three areas: language comprehension, print awareness, and fine motor skills.

LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION:

By the time children enter Kindergarten, they should be able to respond to questions as well as ask their own. Although it is common for your toddler to ask “Why?” relentlessly, some children might need a bit more direction or guidance when asked a question (e.g. “do you have any questions about ____?”). Kids in this age group should also be able to speak clearly, though many preschool-aged children may have minor troubles with certain letters and sounds. If you believe this is the case with your child, speak with their pediatrician to determine if any language interventions may be helpful.

Why Language Comprehension is Important: In a classroom environment, teachers often judge their scholars’ ability to comprehend language based primarily on verbal communication, especially in age groups where the notion of written concepts is still forming. If your child cannot communicate what they understand (or what they do not understand), teachers may have difficulty addressing their unique academic needs appropriately.

PRINT AWARENESS:

Children do not necessarily need to master the entire alphabet by the time they reach Kindergarten, but it is important for them to know and recognize at least some letters. Print awareness also includes knowing how to hold a book properly and turn its pages, and children in preschool should have a general sense of line direction (reading from left to right).

Why Print Awareness is Important: Even if your child is not reading as yet, they are still continuing to develop the integral skills and concepts that serve as the necessary stepping stones for reading comprehension. At this point in time, it is important to encourage print awareness and literacy in your children by reading to them consistently and introducing these skills to them from an early age.

FINE MOTOR SKILLS:

Fine motor skills can be difficult to grasp (literally), but these skills are essential for entering Kindergarten, grade school, and life in general. By the time your child reaches Kindergarten, they should be able to pick up a writing utensil (such as a pencil or crayon) and use it to create marks on a piece of paper. Pouring water into a cup, practicing cutting with safety scissors, velcroing shoes, and painting with a paintbrush are excellent ways to encourage and help develop fine motor skills in children.

Why Fine Motor Skills Are Important: Fine motor development is a significant area for consideration, given that motor skills and control are extremely useful in life for accomplishing different tasks, activities, and jobs. By reinforcing these skills in preschool, we can teach children the necessary skills needed for success in many aspects of life.

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