My son is almost three, and I’m nervous about Manhattan kindergarten admission tests. Is there anything I can do to start to prepare?
Organize Independent Play Toys
The overflowing toy bin in your apartment may not be much fun because your child can probably only play with what is on the top.
A few classic toys (e.g., toy food and kitchen equipment, blocks, vehicles, animals, little people, puzzles, string beads, etc.) should be available for everyday independent play. Rotate them weekly to maintain interest.
Tools for Playtime with You
Additional toys and games can be saved exclusively for playtime with you. While pretend play is a priority for you to engage in with your toddler, some early structured play could help build attention, language, and thinking skills.
The recommended tools below should be used with supervision because of potential choking hazards, but more importantly, to help your child be successful, learn, and have fun.
- To encourage visuospatial skills, encourage your child to complete a variety of puzzles.
- Things That Go Together Puzzle – While your puzzle-savvy toddler may put these pieces together easily, always ask him WHY the items go together. You may initially need to help provide the rationale.
- Categories – Name a category (e.g., farm animals), and encourage your child to list a few.
- Patterning
- Vocabulary – Go beyond labeling items and provide descriptions. Encourage your child to give you more details. For example, when buying milk in the grocery store, point out that the milk is in the dairy section. Here you can also find cheese, butter, eggs, juice…this helps with category naming. You can ask questions such as, “Where does milk come from?” or “What can we make with milk?” to get your child thinking.
Keep the Learning Going
Everyday errands and chores can be transformed into learning. Trips to the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are excellent for vocabulary, and reading optimal children’s books can make the time you spend together invaluable.
Your toddler will love you more for spending quality time together, and he will perhaps become a more precocious, cultured child in the process…reasons why you are ready to give the rigorous private school admissions process a try and why you live in Manhattan in the first place.
If your child has difficulty with anything listed above, or you would like to supplement your preparation with my weekly sessions, please contact me.
Sessions are provided in the comfort of your Upper East Side home. Please explore my speech-language blog for more parent-friendly ideas.