Kindergarten Resources for Parents

Your involvement in your child's learning is important at every stage of their lives. At home, you can foster a love of learning before school even starts. Teaching your child additional skills at home will make the transition to a classroom setting easier and sets a strong foundation moving forward.

Please take a look at our Parent's Guide to Kindergarten for information and tips about Kindergarten at SMCDSB, as well as Kindergarten resources for parents in multiple languages.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has also provided 5 tips for parents of students heading into Kindergarten.

Quick Tips

What skills would be helpful for my child to know before entering Kindergarten?

  • Recognizing his/her own first and last name
  • Knowing the first and last name of parents/guardians
  • Quiet listening during story time
  • Sharing and taking turns
  • Putting on and taking off shoes (velcro shoes are best)
  • Practicing bathroom routines like dressing, undressing, flushing the toilet and washing hands
  • Buttoning and zipping clothing
  • Tidying up toys when finished playing

    • What should my child wear to school?

    Clothing and footwear should be...
    • Comfortable and suited to active play
    • Easy to take on and off (ie. velcro shoes)
    • Durable and easy to clean
    • Suitable for the weather conditions
    • Clearly labelled with your child's first and last name

    What type of backpack should my child have?

  • Try to find something large enough to carry a lunchbox, jacket, and activities or crafts your child may bring home, but small enough that it is easy to carry independently
  • Your child should be comfortable carrying, opening and closing the backpack
  • Lunch boxes and plastic containers should be easy to open and close
  • Remember to label the backpack, lunch box and containers with your child's first and last name

    • What types of food should my child bring?

  • Prepare your child for a good day with a well-balanced breakfast
  • Provide healthy snacks and lunches
  • Remember that some students may have potentially life-threatening allergies - please be aware of the classroom and school rules surrounding food and allergies
  • We encourage lunches without a lot of packaging to limit waste and be good stewards of the environment.

    • Are there resources for parents in other languages?

    Yes. More information and resources on the full-day Kindergarten program are available in many languages on the Ministry of Education website.

    What is the Eye See…Eye Learn® Program?

    If required, Eye See…Eye Learn® will provide one pair of glasses per child courtesy of our participating optometrists and corporate partners Essilor Vision Foundation Canada and Modern Optical Canada. The frames are fashionable and are made with high quality and impact resistant polycarbonate lenses. The estimated value of the glasses is over $250.

    Learn more about the program at optom.on.ca/esel/

    Can my child learn a new language or experience the culture and traditions of our heritage language?

    Yes! Our International and Indigenous Language Elementary Program is a FREE program for students in Kindergarten to Grade 8.  For more information visit https://continuinged.smcdsb.on.ca/iile