Read to Grow helps kids get ready for kindergarten

Read to Grow Johnston County recently hosted its second annual Kindergarten Readiness Nights, preparing 137 rising kindergartners for the upcoming school year.

Families were able to practice the lunch line, tour a classroom and school bus, and engage in learning stations to promote the skills a child needs to be successful in kindergarten.

Each learning station explored a key development area from the N.C. Let’s Get Ready Guide. They included cognitive development, social and emotional development, math, language, health and physical development, and play.

Families counted rocks using math skills, practiced language by spelling with playdough letters, and weaved through an obstacle course to promote physical health. They sorted buttons to support brain development, practiced belly breathing for emotional support and enjoyed time playing a memory game together.

Each event received positive reviews, with 97.7% of parents agreeing that the resources provided would help prepare their child for school.

“While a child knowing the alphabet and identifying colors are important skills, there are other things they must demonstrate to be successful,” said Read to Grow Coordinator Heather Machia. “They must know how to take turns and stick with challenging tasks. By providing simple activities for parents to develop their child’s abilities, parents feel more confident and children are more prepared for success in school and life.”

The readiness events were in collaboration with four Johnston County elementary schools, their nutrition staffs, UNC Health Johnston, Gunter Family McDonald’s and PET Dairy.

The post Read to Grow helps kids get ready for kindergarten first appeared on Restoration NewsMedia .