May: Health & Wellness

Kindergarten Skills DevelopmentGetting Ready to ReadHealth & Wellness

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Skills to Practice this Month

• Help your child develop independence in personal hygiene and using the toilet.
  • Upon entering kindergarten, children should be able to care for some of their personal needs and be independent in using the toilet and properly washing their hands and button, zip, or belt their own clothing.

Activities
Your child probably knows how to use the bathroom on her own, but talk to your child about how it will be different at school than at home. At school there will most likely be stalls, soap dispensers, paper towels or electric hand dryers, etc.

Make sure your child knows the importance of proper and thorough hand washing. Make sure she washes her hands long enough and uses enough soap to get them clean.

Sing "This Is the Way We Wash Our Hands" to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush"
"This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands
This is the way we wash our hands so early in the morning (before every meal, when we've been to the bathroom)."

Useful Websites

• American Academy of Pediatrics
  This site provides information and health tips specific to your school-age child, including colds and how to prevent them by washing hands, using tissues, and not sharing utensils or drinking glasses.