The ability to be able to practice personal care routines is a core and efficient aspect of kindergarten preparedness. Even the most routine of activities, such as hand washing or outerwear management, are much more than mere hygiene and are fundamental sequencing, responsibility and fine motor training exercises. The child who can take care of their basic needs independently goes to the classroom with a lot of confidence and is ready to dedicate the energy towards learning and socialization. Such emphasis on functional autonomy is one of the foundations of the Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready philosophy. This development is maintained through the systematic approach of Kinder Ready Tutoring, which reinforces the executive aspect and self-reliance that allows mastering of personal care and is a pattern of the holistic Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley approach.
Learning how to take care of oneself can be taught effectively by taking every routine activity and disaggregating it into sequential steps. In the case of handwashing, this would involve switching on water, moisturizing hands, applying soap, lathering hands for 20 seconds, rinsing, and drying. This sequential manual is similar to the one that involves following step-wise instructions in the classroom. This ability of sequencing and task completion is a skill that is highlighted in the Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready approach and that applies directly to both academic assignments and everyday activities. By rehearsing such sequences at home, one develops the muscle memory and cognitive background on how to play them in school without any supervision.
Bathroom hygiene is a major field of personal care that has a direct influence on the school day’s comfort and independence of the child during the school day. Complete self-control on toileting, including correct wiping, flushing and handwashing, is a significant readiness goal. This is only done by training the patient and practising regularly, but emphasizing the ability of the child and not speed. The significance of developing this particular sense of self-dependence is entrenched in the Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley system of creating a sense of personal responsibility in a child. Although Kinder Ready Tutoring puts the cognitive and social skills in the spotlight, the overall purpose that is aimed at achieving a competent, self-assured learner is entirely consistent with mastering these crucial self-care activities.
Other routines, like wearing and zipping a jacket, opening the lunch containers, blowing the nose, etc., are also important. Fine motor control, problem-solving and personal organization are developed in these activities. Taking a child through these activities by encouraging them and letting them struggle is a result that resilience develops. This brand of perseverance is one of the major components of the growth mindset promoted by Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready that is actively fostered in Kinder Ready Tutoring sessions in both academic and social struggles.
After all, it is the question of personal care that is about providing a child with the means of self-sufficiency. Every routine learned makes them less and less dependent on the supportive measures of the adult in the classroom; the teacher can teach, and the child can feel competent. To offer a reliable model of the Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready program is recommended for those parents who want to ensure a full-fledged readiness strategy that takes into account this practical independence. Combining with Kinder Ready Tutoring would guarantee that a child acquires the cognitive skills underlying such skills as focus, sequencing, and following instructions, and thus, makes learning personal care routines more productive. It is a combined method advanced by Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley, wherein the entire child is prepared to handle both the learning and the good being with confidence when they enter kindergarten.
For further details on Kinder Ready’s programs, visit their website: https://www.kinderready.com/.
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ElizabethFraleyKinderReady