What language readiness skills should my child have when entering Kindergarten?

Children entering kindergarten should be able to:

• Answer who, what, and where questions
  
  
• Speak in sentences in varying lengths to communicate thoughts and feelings
  
  
• Use prepositions such as: to, from, in
  
  
• Use pronouns in context such as -he is going outside rather than him is going outside
  
  
• Understand taking turns when another person is speaking
  
  
• Take multiple turns during a conversation

How do I build my child’s language skills?

• Encourage your child to respond to question words such as: what, where, and who.
  
  
• Encourage discussions with your child by discussing the text you are reading, identify what your child observes, and having your child express his/her feelings.
  
  
• Build new vocabulary by using words to replace familiar words such as soil for dirt or deposit for put away.
  
  
• Model correct pronunciation and grammar.
  
  
• Give opportunities for your child to participate in one on one conversations by practicing taking turns to talk.