The following are among the basic skills that children need:

• Know their name, address and phone number.

• Be able to tie their shoes and get their coats and boots on and off.

• Be able to use the bathroom and wash their hands.

• Have experiences cooperating with other children: wait their turn,
   work with others, share supplies, etc.

• Use language appropriately and extensively.

• Have a healthy feeling of self-worth and positive feelings of self
  and of others (can-do attitude).

• Have good health and good nutrition habits.

• Be a good listener.

What can parents do at home to help prepare their children to succeed?

Visit the school with your child prior to the first day of school.

Allow your child to be a part of a play group, church group or another
group where she will learn to work and play with others.

Read to and with your child. The single most important activity for building
the knowledge for success in reading is reading aloud to children.

Talk to your child as you go through the day’s activities. Try to spend at
least 30 minutes a day talking and listening to your child.

Talk about items found in the home and make labels together to show that
the item names can be written down as words.

Limit your child’s TV viewing. Children who are watching television are
not playing outside, thinking, or being creative.

Buy or make hand puppets and help your child put on a puppet show
after reading a favorite book.

Sing or recite nursery rhymes, songs and fingerplays.

Expect your child to succeed in school and celebrate when they do.
Children work harder when their parents expect more and when parents
recognize and praise their successes.

Give your child tasks they can master. Help him learn one step at a time.
Teach him to button his own clothing, climb steps. Build an "I can do" attitude.

Let your child make some of the choices. If he’s young, it may mean choosing
a sandwich cut in triangles or squares. If he’s older, he can decide what to do first,
take a bath or pick up the toys.

Hug your child and let him know your love is unconditional.

Make learning fun. He will learn more and quicker if it’s exciting and
 "game-like". "Let’s see who can find the blue squares!" Cook together.
Finger paint, color, draw, cut and paste.
Take a nature walk.

Help your child choose healthy snacks such as fruit, carrot and
celery sticks, plain popcorn, etc.

Keep up with immunization requirements. Call your doctor or local Health
 Department to see if your child needs additional booster shots.