Your child is applying for NYC private school kindergarten admissions! Here are some ways you can help your child succeed at kindergarten interviews, playdates, and the First Look Insights/FLI assessment.
Build Your Child’s Memory Skills
- Shopping List – Share with your child that you need to buy three items at the grocery store (e.g., grapes, bread, cookies) and could use help remembering the list. Ask your child to repeat the list immediately, again in 5 minutes, and then in 30 minutes. Bonus when your child reminds you to go to the grocery store and recalls the list without prompting.
- Memory Games – Traditional memory games can be boring, but Dinosaur Escape and Smoosh and Seek Treehouse are fun!
- Safety Information – Have your child memorize your phone number and address.
- What’s Missing – Your child can choose six different objects. Together, talk about each one. Then, when your child isn’t looking, take one away and mix the others up. Does your child know which item is missing? If not, feel free to provide a hint. Use the same objects and repeat two more times.
- Fun Facts – The next time your child asks you to Google something, discover three facts about the topic together and see if your child can recall these facts in the moment, later that day, and the next day. Exploring your child’s interests will help improve the general knowledge needed for kindergarten interviews, playdates, and the FLI Assessment.
Kindergarten Sequencing
- To teach your child to sequence, start with a sequencing puzzle and talk about what happens first, next, and last. If you think the puzzle will be too easy, start with 3-scene or 4-scene sequencing. Proceed to 6-scene sequencing.
- When your child places the pictures in order from left to right, encourage them to describe each scene in detail, using “sequencing words” such as first, next, last, second, third, fourth, etc.
- While your child is washing hands, talk about the steps involved (e.g., Step 1 – Turn on the water, Step 2 – Wet your hands, Step 3 – Pump soap into your hand, etc.). Then, while washing your hands, have your child provide specific instructions. Do exactly as your child instructs so they can make adjustments.
- Encourage your child to make predictions while reading stories together to guess what happens next.
Gross Motor Kindergarten Readiness
- Have your child practice hopping with two feet, then on the left leg, and also on the right.
- Skip across the room.
- Walk on a balance beam or follow a straight line on the floor (with one foot in front of the other).
- Try the balance beam on tiptoes.
- Play catch with a soft, medium-sized ball. Have your child stand on one foot to catch and throw, then switch feet.
- Walk backward
Fine Motor Skills for Playdates and Interviews
- Using a correct grasp, your child should write their first and, if possible, their last names.
- Draw a Self Portrait – Include details
- Draw basic shapes
- Peel and stick stickers
Rhyming for the FLI Assessment, Interviews and Playdates
- Check out beginner tips for teaching your child to rhyme.
- If you state two words (e.g., make, cake), can your child determine if the words rhyme or not?
- If you list three words (e.g., boat, soap, rope), can your child figure out which word does not rhyme?
Kindergarten Playdate, Interview, & FLI Assessment Articles by Stephanie
- Kindergarten Interview Math
- FLI Assessment (even if your child is not taking the FLI)
- Making Connections While Reading
- Tips for Virtual Kindergarten Admissions Testing and Interview Days
- Prepare Your Preschooler (the information remains relevant although the T&E is no longer administered)
- NYC Kindergarten Prep
If you would like to learn about other areas tested at NYC kindergarten playdates, interviews, and the FLI assessment, or if you have concerns about your child’s preparedness, please get in touch with me, Stephanie Sigal, at sayandplay@yahoo.com. I look forward to speaking with you about your child.