Kindergarten Readiness: What Parents Can Do This Summer to Prepare for School

As a pediatric occupational therapist who spent many years working in the school system, I've had the privilege of helping hundreds of children transition into kindergarten. One thing I've learned is that kindergarten readiness is about much more than knowing letters and numbers. Children thrive when they have the foundational skills to be independent, regulate their emotions, pay attention, and participate confidently in the classroom.

The good news? You don't need expensive workbooks or hours of structured practice. A few simple activities woven into your summer routine can strengthen your child's school readiness, executive functioning, and fine motor skills while making learning fun.

Encourage Independence

One of the best things you can do is simply help a little less.

Encourage your child to:

• Get dressed independently.

• Open snack packages and lunch containers.

• Put on and fasten their shoes.

• Clean up after themselves.

• Ask for help when they truly need it.

These everyday tasks build confidence, problem-solving, and independence—all essential kindergarten readiness skills. Kindergarten teachers love seeing children who are willing to try before immediately asking an adult to do it for them.

Play Games That Build Executive Functioning

Choose one family game to play each week. Board games and simple card games are one of the easiest ways to develop executive functioning skills, including:

• Following directions

• Taking turns

• Working memory

• Flexible thinking

• Inhibition and self-control

• Attention and problem-solving

Many games also strengthen fine motor skills through rolling dice, picking up small pieces, shuffling cards, or using spinners.

Draw Before You Write

Before expecting children to write letters and sentences, help them become confident drawers.

Using sidewalk chalk or a dry erase marker, practice drawing:

• Stick figures

• Houses

• Trees

• Circles

• Squares

• Triangles

These simple drawings build the prewriting strokes, visual-motor integration, and planning skills that support handwriting and later written expression. Drawing is one of the most overlooked but powerful occupational therapyrecommendations for young children.

Build Independent Work Time

Kindergarten requires children to stay engaged in activities without constant adult support.

Practice this at home by having your child spend just 5–10 minutes independently:

• Coloring

• Completing a puzzle

• Looking through books

• Building with blocks

• Creating with playdough

These short activities strengthen attention, persistence, and confidence while supporting overall school readiness.

Small Steps Make a Big Difference

Preparing for kindergarten doesn't have to feel overwhelming. Small, consistent opportunities for independence, play, drawing, and problem-solving help build the foundational skills children use every day in the classroom.

As a pediatric occupational therapist with years of experience in the school system, these are the same practical strategies I recommend to families every year because they truly make a difference.

Want to learn more?

Visit the Freebies section of my website to download my free Kindergarten Readiness Presentation, where I dive deeper into the skills that help children start school with confidence and provide simple, practical ideas you can begin using at home today.

If you're wondering whether your child is ready for kindergarten, I offer a Kindergarten Readiness Assessment and Screener that provides individualized recommendations to help your child start the school year with confidence. You'll find it under the Services section of my website.