When – Kindergarten/Begindergarten/Junior Kindergarten registration may begin as early as February prior to the start of the following school year.  Check with your local school district – Link to districts.

• Starting school is an important time in a child’s life.  Since a child’s school success is also important to us, we encourage parents to register their children for Kindergarten/Begindergarten/Junior Kindergarten during Kindergarten Registration and Round-Up events.  This will allow the teachers, principals and school districts several opportunities to connect with you and your child before school begins and allow them the opportunity to plan for the upcoming school year.
  
• Go to your local school district for registration information – look for enrollment or registration information.  You can find all the local public school districts here – Link to local school districts. 
• Unsure of which school district you reside?  Find your school district – type in your address, enter and scroll down on the left side.
• Michigan Department of Education Parent Guide #3 – How do I enroll my child in Kindergarten?

A child who is five years old on or before September 1 may enroll in kindergarten.

Michigan Department of Education resources:

• Is My Child Required to Attend Kindergarten?
• Early Entry Option for Kindergarten Enrollment

Below are some resources and activities which will help you support your child’s social-emtional development as they prepare for kindergarten:

Transition to Kindergarten – Social Emotional Development

Every day interactions and activities can help your child continue to grow and develop in their social-emotional skills.  The following are just a sample of some of the activities you can do with them to help them develop.

• Play Simon Says and give your child 2 things to do.
• Pretend it’s the first day of school and practice ways to say goodbye.
• Play a card or board game that involves taking turns.
• Cook in the kitchen together.  Have your child follow the receipe.  Let them mix and stir.
• Play Seek & Find. Examples:  “Find something in the kitchen.”, “Find something that is square.”
• Read a book about feelings such as The Way I Feel by Janan Cain.  Use this Parent Guide for additional ideas and discussion while reading the book.

MI Kids Matter – Social Emotional Development Milestones for Children ages 3-5 

Fact Sheet – Social Emotional Health of Children Birth to Age 8  

Social Emotional Health, A Guide for Families with Children Birth to Age 8

Transition To Kindergarten – Cognitive Development

Michigan Department of Education Parent Guides: 

• What Will My Child Learn in Kindergarten? Reading and Math Success
• What Will My Child Learn in Kindergarten? Student Success in Science, Technology, Social Studies, Nutrition and Health, Physical Education, the Arts, Careers and, for some, World Languages

National Parent Teacher Association Parent Guides – Shows what is expected at each grade level in math and English language arts. 

• Kindergarten Parents’ Guide to Student Success

Below are some resources and activities you can do to help support your child’s transition to kindergarten:

Transition to Kindergarten – Physical Development

Let your child practice the following at home:

• Getting dressed – buttoning their shirt, putting on and zipping their coat, etc.
• Opening a (small) milk carton or inserting a straw into a juice box.
• Going to the bathroom – unbuttoning/fastening their pants.
• Putting on their shoes.
• Washing their hands.
• Using a doll or stuffed animal, show them how to blow a nose into a tissue.  Let them practice blowing or wiping their own nose.
• Create a lunch plan.  Will your child pack a lunch or buy it at school?  Practice at home.

Michigan Department of Education – How Can I Help My Child Become a Reader?

Transition to Kindergarten – Language Development

Great Start Livingston – Literacy Resources

It is called various names  depending on the district. (i.e. Junior Kindergarten, Begindergarten, Developmental Kindergarten, etc.).

Some districts offer a developmental kindergarten program, some do not.

• • Developmental kindergarten is intended to provide children who are not ready with an extra year of schooling.  Additional information from Michigan Department of Education.
  • For additional information ask your school district – Link to local districts
  • Michigan Department of Education resources: Will My Child Benefit From an Extra Year of Kindergarten?

• You know your child best and what works best for your child and your family.
• Elementary schools and staff are trained and prepared to support your child where he/she is developmentally.
• Attend your district’s registration events and review their resources on their websites.
  • Link to local districts
• Discuss this potential option with your child’s early childhood provider.
• If you still have questions, consider contacting and discussing this potential option with the incoming elementary school principal, see link to districts above.
• You have options, it is your choice. 
• Advocate for your child.
• Additional resources:
  • Helping My Child Transition to Kindergarten  
  • Michigan Department of Education Parent Guides: 
    • Will My Child Benefit From an Extra Year of Kindergarten?
    • Early Entry Option for Kindergarten Enrollment
    • How Do I Enroll My Child in Kindergarten?

You will need to contact the school district you would like your child to attend.

You can find all the local public school districts here – Link to local districts.  Look for enrollment or registration information. 

Unsure of which school district you currently reside? 

• Find your school district – type in your address, enter and scroll down on the left side.

You will need to check with your local district.

• You can find all the local public school districts here – Link to local districts.
• Unsure of which school district you reside?  Find your school district – type in your address, enter and scroll down on the left side.

Other resources

• Great Start to Quality
  • Finding Child Care
    • Search for programs who provide care for School Age children near your school and/or home
• Tip Sheet – Transition to Kindergarten & Before/After Care Programs

You will need to check with your local district.

• You can find all the local public school districts here – Link to local districts.
• Unsure of which school district you reside?  Find your school district – type in your address, enter and scroll down on the left side.

Schools will distribute/mail bussing information just prior to the school year.

•   Prior to the school year, you may see busses out in your community.  They are planning bus routes and preparing for the school year.

Contact the Special Education representative at your school district.

Below are some resources:

• Know Your Rights: Visit Michigan Alliance for Families. Michigan Alliance for Families is a statewide resource to connect families of children with disabilities to resources to help improve their children’s education. They help facilitate parent involvement as a means of improving educational services and outcomes for students with disabilities.
• The Arc of Livingston – Provides advocacy, referrals and support to people with developmental disabilities and their families.
• Michigan Department of Education – What Is a 504 Plan for Students with Disabilities?

All of the above resources are free.

Transition to Kindergarten- Approaches to Learning

Michigan Department of Education Parent Guides:

• What can I do at home?
• How can I be engaged with my child’s education?