THE HOKEY POKEY DEVELOPMENTAL SKILLS

ANSWERING THE EARLY-K QUESTION With the Help of Nursery Rhymes

Many parents struggle with the decision to send their child to kindergarten before he or

she turns 5, or to wait another year before boarding the bus.

If you're trying to discern whether your child is ready or not, we've enlisted the help of Mother Goose to highlight the milestones and skills your child should demonstrate before initiating the early enrollment process.

While cute nursery rhymes may help pre-assess your child's readiness, the school system requires that all early-k applicants be formally evaluated for early-k readiness by a licensed provider. More information about early-k testing can be found on the other side of this sheet. It should be noted that criteria for consideration is rigorous and the application process is an investment in your child's well-being, regardless of the results.

THE HOKEY POKEY

You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out You put your right foot in, and you shake it all about. You do the Hokey Pokey, and you turn yourself around, That's what it's all about.

DEVELOPMENTAL SKILLS Your child should be able to:

Follow 2-3 step instructions Sustain attention for at least 10 minutes at a time Demonstrate fine motor skills and independently engage in self care (get dressed, use the restroom)

THE ALPHABET SONG

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L-M-N-O-P, Q, R, S, T, U, V,W, X, Y, and Z. Now I know my ABCs, Next time won't you sing with me.

COGNITIVE SKILLS Your child should show knowledge of:

The ABC's, common sight words, and numbers 1-10 Basic demographic information about him/herself The concepts of shape, size, color and time

HUMPTY DUMPTY

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King's horses and all the King's men Couldn't put Humpty together again.

EMOTIONAL MATURITY: Your child should effectively:

Separate from you; engage diplomatically with peers Communicate thoughts and feelings Regulate his/her emotions

ITSY BITSY SPIDER

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out. Out came the sun and dried up all the rain, So the itsy-bitsy spider went up the spout again.

DESIRE TO LEARN: Your child should demonstrate:

Curiosity; a desire to learn and explore A "can-do" attitude; persistence in the face of challenges and setbacks

EARLY-ENTRY

KINDERGARTEN

EARLY-K ENTRY: WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW

Determining whether a child is ready to enter kindergarten early is a difficult decision for some parents. Orenstein Solutions, a private psychology practice in Cary, NC, offers the educational testing required by the school system to clarify the "ready or not" question.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR EARLY-K? Children that turn 4 years old by April 16th of this year, and demonstrate both cognitive and emotional "readiness," can apply to enter kindergarten this fall.

WHAT IS EARLY-K "READINESS"?

To be considered for early-k entry, children must demonstrate not only excellent academic skills, but must also be socially and communicatively apt, confident, and mature.

Two testing measures, The Woodcock Johnson and The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, evaluate both aptitude and achievement to determine if a child is prepared for the challenges of kindergarten. In order to be considered, a child must score in the 98th percentile on both of these measures.

WHEN CAN A CHILD BE TESTED?

A child can be tested beginning April 17th through the start of the school year.

WHERE IS THE TESTING COMPLETED?

The school system does not offer this testing. Psychologist, Dr. Tina Inman, offers the required testing in the Orenstein Solutions office, conveniently located to Durham, Raleigh, Apex and Chapel Hill.

WHY DR. TINA INMAN?

Dr. Inman is experienced in psychological and educational testing. She can accurately and efficiently evaluate a child for early-k readiness and equip parents with the resources and tools they need to navigate the process.

HOW CAN PARENTS TAKE THE NEXT STEP?

Contact Orenstein Solutions to set up a free, 15 minute phone consultation with Dr. Inman. In that complimentary session, Dr. Inman can help parents determine if testing is suitable for their child, and can usually schedule an evaluation within 2 weeks. Call 919-428-2766 ext. 0 or email

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