Bright From The Start

	Writing with a tripod grasp? (Index finger & thumb)
	Cutting accurately?
	Happy to perform tabletop activities or does he or she avoid them?
	Drawing?
	Using a dominant hand? (Right or Left handed)
	Writing his or her name?

Parents often feel that their child should only play during their preschool years and learning should be left to the teachers when they get to school. Many parents don't realise that the first five years, the preschool years, are dubbed the formative years. This is the period the child develops approximately 70% of their brain connections. Stimulation to the brain during this time is imperative as it strengthens these connections and absorbs information like a sponge.

Children need good posture, muscle tone and fine motor control to begin school. A child who is clumsy and can't move well, who is floppy, hasn't got a good pencil grip and can't hold scissors properly is probably going to have some difficulty in their first year of school. Kids need to have sufficient physical development to competently master the technical stuff of school. If they can open their school bag, take lids off lunch boxes, get out pens and put their shoes on, it will help them to feel comfortab le in the school environment from the beginning.

Children quite often get their act together quickly once they are at school but a child who arrives with an inner core of social, emotional and basic skills will be ready to learn with joy, without being overburdened.

Motor skills are the foundation for much of a child's early learning and are more important than we ever thought. Fine motor skills are needed before a preschool child can learn to write, while there is a relationship between gross motor skills and learning to read. Using games suitable for Kindergarten or Preschool children you can make learning fun!

Some of the essential Skills for Kindergarten are:

Fine Motor Skills:		Gross Motor Skills:
Hand dominance - right or left handed Drawing with detail Writing their name Neat and accurate scissor skills		Catching and throwing Running and jumping with co-ordination Balancing Muscle tone for strength and stability Midline crossing
What are Fine Motor Skills		What are Gross Motor Skills
Not sure what games to buy to develop Fine Motor Skills?		Not sure what games to buy to develop Gross Motor Skills?

Visual Perception Skills:		Self Care Skills:
Copying sequences Copying shapes Finding hidden objects		Dressing Tying shoelaces Managing zippers and buttons Opening lunch and snack packets Packing school gear
What are Visual Perception Skills		What are Self Care Skills
Not sure what games to buy to develop Visual Perception Skills?		Not sure what games to buy to develop Self Care Skills?