
Ready, Set, Kindergarten!
Supercharge Your Child's Kindergarten Success

Thanks for signing up for kindergarten tips and tricks from Arlington Community Schools! Ready, Set, Kindergarten! is a program ACS created to help prepare families of rising kindergartners. Preparing for kindergarten can be overwhelming and challenging. It's a new world for many parents, and many of us want our children to have a head start! Whether your child is entering school in the fall or has a year or two to go, this newsletter is here to help you!
Mastering Handwriting
Learning to write is a crucial milestone for every child, and mastering handwriting skills is an important part of that process. One skill often overlooked, for example, is that students should know the difference between capital and lowercase letters before entering kindergarten. As a parent, you can help your kindergartner develop their handwriting skills by providing them with the right tools, environment and guidance.
Watch this quick tip and trick video about Mastering Handwriting, featuring Arlington Community Schools' Kindergarten Teacher Kirstie Profit.
Want to dive deeper? Read further about Mastering Handwriting!
Writing is considered a multi-sensory activity that connects communication between the brain and hand with the side of the brain that processes language. Put more simply, children who spend more time writing have stronger reading and spelling skills due to the way the brain develops.
Here are some tips and tricks that you can use at home to prepare your child for handwriting while making it fun!
- Provide the right tools: Give your child the right tools for writing, such as pencils, crayons and markers. Choose tools that are appropriate for their age and skill level, and make sure they are comfortable to hold. A pencil grip is an awesome tool to help your child get started holding a pencil. Just make sure to phase out the pencil grip after your child has become comfortable with the idea of handwriting.
- Create a conducive environment: Ensure that your child has a comfortable and ergonomic workspace with good lighting. The workspace should be free of distractions, and the chair and desk should be at the right height for your child.
- Practice, practice, practice: Encourage your child to practice writing every day. Start with simple activities like tracing and copying letters and numbers, and gradually progress to more complex tasks like writing their name and short sentences. Practice makes perfect, and consistent practice can help your child develop their writing skills and gain confidence in their abilities.
- Finally, make it fun! Creating a fun environment can help motivate your rising kindergartner to practice and improve their skills. Here are some ways to make it fun:
- Use colorful writing tools
- Incorporate drawing and coloring
- Play writing games like Hangman, Tic-Tac-Toe or a word search
- Create a writing station with fun and colorful materials, such as stickers, stamps and different types of paper
- Write letters to family and friends
- Use technology like an iPad to access educational apps and software
- Incorporate movement by using a whiteboard or chalkboard
Helping your rising kindergartner develop their handwriting skills is a gradual process that requires patience, practice and a positive attitude. By following these tips and tricks, you can create a fun and engaging learning environment that will help your child master handwriting skills and prepare them for success in kindergarten and beyond.
Will you have an ACS Kindergartener next school year? Come to our Meet & Greet!
The ACS Connect is created by ACS Communications. If you would like to submit a story idea or feature, please email tyler.hill@acsk-12.org. Follow us on Instagram!