Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Resources

DCDSB has created resources to help parents/guardians prepare their child for Kindergarten. Please view the resources below.

Kindergarten Transition Checklist

This checklist will help you support your child’s transition into Kindergarten.

Connect with community partners (local public library, recreational facilities, park programs);
Arrange your before and after school child care needs early. A complete listing of services offered at our Durham Catholic schools is available on pages 14-15;
Participate in Early Years Programs (Mother Goose Program, Play-to-Learn Programs, EarlyON, School Readiness Programs);
Involve your child in everyday learning opportunities (talk about the letters in store signs, count the number of steps on your stairs at home, discuss the changes you see in nature);
Establish daily routines (regular bedtimes, daily reading opportunities, personal hygiene, healthy eating habits);
Encourage personal independence (putting on shoes, zipping zippers, fastening buttons, washing hands, toileting);
Schedule regular health check-ups (physician, dentist, audiologist and optometrist); and
Contact the principal if you have any concerns about your child's readiness for Kindergarten, prior to September.

Reading

Is your child starting to prepare for Kindergarten? Help them build their skills through reading! Reading to your child and encouraging your child to read will help develop your child’s listening skills and an interest in stories. Watch the video below for more helpful tips and information.

Establishing a Routine

If you have a child that is entering Kindergarten, there are plenty of things you can do to prepare you and your child for the first day of school. A helpful tip is to establish a routine, and it's great to start this routine early.

Set a designated bedtime and wake up time. This will make settling down and getting up a little bit easier when the first day comes around.
Establish morning routines such as brushing teeth, washing face, combing hair, and getting dressed.
Have specific times during the day to eat breakfast, snacks, and lunch. If you know your child’s school start and lunch times, try to work around this schedule.
If you are able, walk or drive to school a few days before the first day so that your child can get used to the travel routine.

Practicing these routines a couple of weeks before school starts will help your child adjust and set them up for success for Kindergarten.

Backpacks

Sending your child to Kindergarten for the first time can be an overwhelming and exciting experience. Ensuring they have everything they need in their backpack, plus making sure they know how to pack everything back up, will help set your mind and your child at ease on their first day. Watch the video below for more information.

Preparing Your Child For Learning

If your child is entering Kindergarten, there are plenty of ways to help them prepare for learning. Below are some helpful tips:

Talking and Listening - Your child learns best when you talk with them. Singing, rhyming and reading can build their communication and listening skills so they can be prepared for school.
Play Time – Kindergarten is based around play and playing can help your child grow and develop. Spend time playing with your child so they can discover their interests and learn how to share, communicate and play with others.
Physical Activity – Keeping your child active where possible is a great way to keep them strong and healthy. Take them on walks or bike rides, take them to the park, or create some fun games to play outside in the back or front yard.
Good Nutrition – This is vital for a thriving Kindergarten student! Good nutrition will give your child the foundation to grow, have enough energy to learn, and stay healthy.

Hand Washing and Self Care

It’s important for your child to be prepared before entering Kindergarten, especially with hand washing and self-care routines. Watch our video for our washing and self care tips.

Nutrition and Snacks

Nutrition is key for a strong and healthy kindergarten student! If your child is entering Kindergarten, here are some good nutrition tips for when they start school. Watch this video for our tips on nutrition and snacks for your child.

Play and Involvement in the Community

If you are getting your child ready for Kindergarten, there are plenty of activities and things you can do together to help them prepare, such as involving them in the community or playing indoors or outdoors. Watch this video for our tips.

3D Kindergarten Classroom Tours

We invite families to explore our Kindergarten classrooms in 3D! You can move around the classroom with your child to learn about the day-to-day Kindergarten experience at Durham Catholic District School Board.

To date, we have six DCDSB Kindergarten classroom tours available. We will be adding further 3D classroom tours as they become available.

School	Explore in 3D
Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School	Explore
Sir Albert Love Catholic School	Explore
St. Christopher Catholic School	Explore
St. Hedwig Catholic School	Explore
St. John XXIII Catholic School	Explore
St. Joseph Catholic School (Oshawa)	Explore
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School	Explore

Helpful Resources

The following resources are also available to help parent(s) or guardian(s) support their child's transition into Kindergarten:

Navigating Kindergarten Zoom Series

During the 2022-2023 school year, families were invited to our Navigating Kindergarten Zoom Series, a live virtual parent/guardian series that prepared families and their children for Kindergarten. These sessions provided tips to ensure a year filled with growth and learning. These sessions were recorded to share relevant information with families for years to come. Check out the recordings below.

Welcome to Kindergarten at DCDSB and Information on Before and After Child Care

Presenters:

Sarah Crockford, DCDSB Academic Services Consultant, Early Years & Religion and Family Life K-12
Luetasha Watkins, DCDSB Supervisor for Early Years and Child Care
DCDSB Child Care Partners

Join us while we support you and your child as they prepare for the first year of school. We will walk through a day and a life in Kindergarten. You will have the opportunity to meet some of our childcare providers. There will be an opportunity for questions and answers.

Early Literacy Skills

Presenters:

Lisa Jeffers, DCDSB Literacy Consultant/ESL/ELD Programs
Stacey Hadden, DCDSB Literacy Consultant
Jennifer Brown, DCDSB Literacy Consultant/Intermediate Guidance Lead

In response to the Ontario Human Rights Commission's Right to Read Report we will share how to use engaging activities to support your child at home in their literacy development. Activities that promote phonemic awareness and letter sound correspondence will help instil a love of learning and literacy.

Supporting Transitions for Students with Special Needs

Presenters:

Teresa Ezquerra, DCDSB Consultant for Special Education
Helen Killoran, DCDSB Consultant for Autism

Learn about how to support your child’s needs in their transition to Kindergarten. This session will be focused on developing a greater awareness of some of the strategies and supports that help to build readiness skills. Parents/guardians will be provided with key information and resources to help navigate the school system through a special education lens.

Tips and Strategies to Support Communication Skills and Well-Being in Kindergarten

Presenters:

Michelle Adair, DCDSB Board Certified Behaviour Analyst
Narmilee Dhayanandhan, DCDSB Speech-Language Pathologist
Katie Plaunt, DCDSB Speech-Language Pathologist
Ashley Toohey, DCDSB Psychometrist

This multi-disciplinary team will provide parents/guardians with a few practical tips and strategies to support their children’s preparedness for entry to Kindergarten. These strategies will cover the areas of language development, reading and math readiness, fine and gross motor skills, self-care, and social-emotional wellness.