The Hidden Skills Your Child Needs to Thrive in Kindergarten (Beyond Reading)

The Hidden Skills Your Child Needs to Thrive in Kindergarten (Beyond Reading)

From play on words by miss beth

May 26, 2026 · 23 min

About this episode

Beth discusses the essential skills children need for kindergarten beyond just reading.

Episode 89. In this episode, Beth breaks down what kindergarten readiness actually looks like and why reading is just one small piece of the puzzle. She walks through the practical skills children need before they start kindergarten, why an extra year doesn't automatically make reading easier, and what parents can do right now this summer to set their child up for confidence and success on day one. Join us for Big City Summer! LINKED HERE [https://www.bigcityreaders.com/summer-reading-program] What you'll learn * Why your child does not need to enter kindergarten already reading and what the research actually says * Why the brain is not naturally wired to learn to read (and what that means for your child) * Whether holding your child back an extra year will actually make reading easier * The concept of print skill most parents overlook, and how to check if your child has it * A practical checklist of kindergarten readiness skills across literacy, fine motor, social, and self-care * Why emotional readiness and excitement about school may matter more than academic skills * How co-regulation and the way you talk to your child shapes how they talk to themselves * What to practice…

People in this episode

Host: Beth

Topics covered

  • kindergarten readiness
  • early literacy
  • social-emotional learning
  • parent tips
  • fine motor skills

Keywords

  • kindergarten readiness
  • reading skills
  • emotional readiness
  • print skills
  • co-regulation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Big City Readers

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