H E L P P R E PA R E Y O U R C H I L D F O R T H E I R F I R S T Y E A R O F S C H O O L

www.onekidsplace.ca

The purpose of this Kindergarten

readiness package is to provide you

with age appropriate developmental

milestones that will highlight your

child’s current skill levels. There are

also fun activities and other resources

that can help better prepare your

child for his or her first year of school.

OUR MISSIOn

To provide community-based rehabilitation and related support services for children and youth (up to the age of 19) and their families living in the Districts of Muskoka, Nipissing and Parry Sound.

OUR VISIOn

One Kids Place will be a Centre of Excellence where the child’s goals toward independence are the shared focus for all services and supports.

OUR VALUES

• ChildandFamily-Centered

• Strengths-based

• LifeLongGoals

• HighQuality

• ActiveParticipation

• RespectforDiversity

• IdentifiableandAccessible

• SeamlessandCoordinatedContinuity

• DecentralizedandTechnologicallyAdvanced

• CostEffectiveandAccountable

A MODEL OF ACCESSIbILITY, InTEgRATIOn AnD PARTnERSHIP

One Kids Place is an integrated multi-service agency

providing assessment, diagnosis, and specialized

rehabilitation therapy, support and treatment

services for children and youth with communicative,

developmental and physical disabilities, many

of whom have multiple/complex special needs.

OUR SERVICES

OccupatiOnal therapy

The Occupational Therapist supports children and youth to function at their best in the roles that they perform daily (i.e. hygiene, feeding, dressing and writing). The Occupational Therapist will assist in the areas of self-care activities,playandleisureandtheutilizationofadaptiveequipment.

physiOtherapy

The Physiotherapist works with children and youth and their families to enhance mobility, improve physical function andpositioningandutilizeadaptiveequipmentthroughassessment,exerciseprogramsandplay.

psychOlOGy

ThePsychologist/PsychologicalAssociateprovidesassessment,consultationandtreatmentplanningtoassistchildren and youth and their families to achieve their full cognitive, adaptive and learning potential.

sOcial WOrK

The Social Worker provides counselling to children, youth and families supporting them throughout the therapeutic process.

speech-lanGuaGe therapyTheSpeech-LanguagePathologistprovidesassessment,consultationandtreatmentplanningtoassistchildrenandyouth to achieve their optimum potential in all areas of speech and language: communication, cognition and swallowing.

therapeutic recreatiOnTheTherapeuticRecreationistworkswithcommunitypartnerstoidentify,planandimplementleisureopportunitiesfor children and youth with special needs.

specialized clinics

OneKidsPlaceprovidesavarietyofclinicswithothercommunitypartnersutilizingateamapproachincluding:

• DevelopmentalClinic;

• FeedingTeamClinic;

• OrthoticsClinic;

• Alternative/AugmentativeCommunicationClinic;

• SeatingandMobilityServices;and

• HealthyBodiesClinic.

nOrtheast reGiOnal applied BehaviOur analysis (aBa prOGram)

TheAppliedBehaviourAnalysis(ABA)-basedServicesandSupportsprogrambuildsonthecontinuumofservicesandsupportsforchildrenandyouthwithAutismSpectrumDisorder(ASD).TheABA-basedservicesandsupportsaredesignedtohelpabroadrangeofchildrenandyouthwithASDdevelopskillsinkeyareasandtoaddressbehavioursthatinterferewithfunctionallifeskillsanddecreaseinterferingbehaviours.Keyareasofdevelopmentinclude:communication; social/interpersonal;dailyliving;andbehaviourmanagement/emotionregulation.TheseservicesandsupportspromotethegeneralizationandmaintenanceofskillsacrosssettingsanddifferentstimulusconditionsandhelpchildrenandyouthwithASDbuildskillsandmanagebehaviourssothattheycanparticipateintheircommunities.

* All of these services are supported by qualified Communicative Disorders Assistants and Therapy Assistants.

nipissinG timisKaminG preschOOl speech and lanGuaGe prOGram

One Kids Place is the lead agency and provider of preschool speech and language services for the Districts of Nipissing and Timiskaming.

musKOKa parry sOund preschOOl speech and lanGuaGe prOGram

One Kids Place is the lead agency and provider of preschool speech and language services for the Districts of Muskoka and Parry Sound.

rural/remOte services

HealthservicesareprovidedtochildrenandyouthinruralandremoteareasthroughIntegratedServicesforNorthernChildren funding.

nady

InpartnershipwithNADY(NipissingAssociationforDisabledYouth), OKP delivers the Saturday and Summer recreational program for children, youthandyoungadultswithphysicaldisabilitiesenrolledwithNADY.

infant hearinG prOGram

One Kids Place provides a community screening clinic as part of the Ontario InfantHearingProgram(IHP).Thegoalistoidentifythoseinfantswithpermanent hearing impairment and to provide communication intervention.

Blind/lOW visiOn prOGram

OneKidsPlaceprovidesfamilysupportservicestoOntario’sBlind/LowVisionEarlyInterventionProgram.Theprogramisdesignedtogivechildrenwho are born blind or with low vision the best possible start in life.

SPEECH AnD LAngUAgE DEVELOPMEnTAL MILESTOnES

AT 3 YEARS OF AgE

• Usesandunderstands“who”,“what”,“where”and“why”questions

• Createslongsentencesandsimplestoriesof5to8words

• Participatesinpretendplayofdailyactivitiesthathavemultiplesteps,like:takingabathorcookingameal

• Speaksclearlyenoughtobeunderstoodbynon-familymembersmostofthetime

* Model proper speech sounds and grammar for your child by repeating what he or she said correctly. If your child says “he jump”, you can repeat “yes, he is jumping”.

AT 4 YEARS OF AgE

• Followsdirectionswith3ormoresteps–“Firstgotoyourroom,thengetsomesocksandlastbringthemtodad”

• Tellsstoriesthatareeasytofollowandhaveaclearbeginning,middleandend

• Speaksclearlyenoughtobeunderstoodnearlyallofthetimebynon-familymembers

• Isabletomakesimplerhymeslike“car”and“star”

• Usesgrammarinamoreadult-likeway

If your child is notmeetingoneormore of themilestones

listed above, please contact One Kids Place for more

information about how our services may be able to help

support your child’s development. The contact information

for the One Kid’s Place Childrens Treatment Centre location

in your area can be found on the last page of this booklet.

* Government of Ontario. (2007). Preschool speech and language program: Your preschool child’s speech and language development [Pamphlet].

SPEECH AnD LAngUAgE ACTIVITIES

The following are activities that you and your child can do together to help practice and develop speech and language skills.

POPULAR CHILDREn’S SOngS AnD RHYMES

ROw, ROw, ROw YOUR bOAT

Sitting across from your child, join hands and rock forwards and backwards as you sing!

Row, row, row your boat Gently down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Life is but a dream

Forthisverse,holdyourarmsoutlikeyouareholdinghandle bars and march your feet up and down like you are pushing the pedals of a bike.

Ride, ride, ride your bike Up and down the street Happily, happily, happily, happily This is where we meet

Forthislastverse,holdyourarmsstraightouttobothsides and tilt like an airplane.

Fly, fly, fly your plane Fly your plane up high Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily High up in the sky!

HEAD & SHOULDERS

Letyourchildcopyyouractionsasyoutouchthebodypartsinthesongasyousing!Anotherfunwaytotrythesong is to sing it really fast or really slow!

Head and shoulders Knees and toes, knees and toes, knees and toes Head and shoulders Knees and toes Eyes, ears, mouth and nose

IF YOU’RE HAPPY & YOU KnOw IT

This song has built in actions!

If you’re happy and you know it Clap your hands (Clap! Clap!) If you’re happy and you know it Clap your hands (Clap! Clap!) If you’re happy and you know it Then your face will surely show it If you’re happy and you know it Clap your hands (Clap! Clap!)

Becreativeandaddinotherverseslike:

Stompyourfeet,shout“hurrah”,touchyournose,jumpreally high, kick your foot, wiggle your nose and shake your hands.

PLAY AnD PRETEnD

THE LETTER CARRIER gAME

Filla‘mailbag’withlettersinenvelopestobedelivered.Eachenvelope should contain a piece of paper with a picture of an object or an action, (for example object: apple, action: eating) as well as the name of the object or action written on the letter.

Forthisrole-playingactivity,onepersongetstoplaythe‘lettercarrier’whiletheotherplaysthe‘receiver’ofthemail.Taketurnsdeliveringand receiving the mail.

Anexampleofthedialogueforthispretendplaycouldbe:

letter carrier

“Hello!Iam(NAME)thelettercarrierandIhavealettertodeliverfor(NAMEOFRECEIVEROFLETTER)”.

letter receiver

“Hellolettercarrier(NAMEOFLETTERCARRIER),thankyoufortheletter”.

letter carrier

“Let’sreadittogether!”

The letter can be opened and shared as you discuss the image and word or action, identifying letters of the alphabet, beginning sounds and even rhyming words.

I HEAR wITH MY LITTLE EAR…

Thisgameisjustlike“ISpy”butisplayedusingsounds.

1) Lookaroundtheroomandchooseanobject.Then,giveacluetoyourchildwiththebeginningsound of the object.

“Ihearwithmylittleearsomethingthatstartswithan“SSS”sound”

2) Yourchildthenguessesanobjectintheroomthatstartswiththesamesound.Thisisagoodopportunityto discuss starting sounds and how many objects in the room may start with the same sound.

Yourchildmightidentify“Star”,towhichyoucouldask: “Isthereanythingelseintheroomthatstartswithan“SSS”sound?”

Tryrhymingwords,like“findsomethingthatsoundslike‘boat’intheroom”.“Isitcoat?”

This game can be played at home or on the go!

SHARED bOOK READIng

Readingbookstogetherprovidesagreatopportunitytotalkwithyourchildaboutwhatyouarereadingandseeing.

• Use‘picturetalk’askingwho?what?where?andwhy?questionsaboutthepictures.

• Play‘letterdetective’andtrytofindhowmanytimesacertainlettershowsuponthepage.

• Trytoidentifyrepetitionsorrhymingwordswithyourchild.

• Thebestbooksareonesthatarepredictable,repetitiveandrhyming.Somerecommendedauthorsforthese kindsofbooksincludeRobertMunschandDr.Seuss.Findthematyourlocalpubliclibrary!

DAY-TO-DAY SPEECH ACTIVITIES

Useeverydayactivitieslikegroceryshoppingtopracticespeechbyidentifyingopposites,like:bigandsmall(cans),longandshort(lineups),softandhard(fruit)andheavyandlight(bagsofrice).Youcanalsopracticeidentifying‘same’and‘different’aswellascountingandrhyming!

Does your child like these kinds of activities? If so, visit the One Kids Place webpage www.onekidsplace.ca/ for links to even more fun!

FInE MOTOR DEVELOPMEnTAL MILESTOnES:

SOCIAL AnD PLAY

tAT 3 YEARS OF AgE

• Imaginaryplay:Pretendsobjectshaveactions,eitherrealorimaginary

• Createsartsandcrafts,puzzlesandbuildswithblocks

• Plays,sharesandparticipatesinactivitywithotherchildrenincludingsongs,dance,artandgames

• Triestotaketurnswithotherchildrenandshowsinterestinbeing a friend

• Usestripodgrasponpencilorcrayon

• Colourswithinthelines

• Copiessimpleshapes

• Abletousescissorstocutsimpleshapes,likealineoracircle

bY 4 YEARS OF AgE

• Participatesingroupactivitieswithsimplerules

• Createscomplexstructuresandisinterestedintheendgoalofanartactivity

• Participatesinroleplay,dressupandstorytellingwithotherchildren

• Draws,copiessimpleshapesandcolourswithinthelinesallwithatripodgrasp.

• Copieshisorherownname

• Makesuporhelpstoplanaroleplaystorieswithotherchildren

• Enjoyssingingwholesongsandclowningaround

If yourchild isnotmeetingoneormoreof themilestones

listed above, please contact One Kids Place for more

information about how our services may be able to help

support your child’s development. The contact information

for the One Kid’s Place Childrens Treatment Centre location

in your area can be found on the last page of this booklet.

tCase-Smith, J. (2005). Occupational therapy for children. (5th ed.). Colombus, Ohio: Elsevier Mosby.

FInE MOTOR SKILL ACTIVITIES

The following are activities and worksheets that you and your child can do together to help practice fine motor skills.

DRAwIng AnD LETTER TRACIng

Allowyouchildtodrawfreelyusinghisorherfavouritecolouredcrayons,markersorpencilcrayons.

Doesyourchildhaveahardtimegrasping?Provideyourchildwithacrayonbit(about1inch)foraneasiergrasp.

*Remember to watch your child carefully when using crayon bits, as they pose a choking hazard.

QUICK RESOURCE:

Foragreatselectionofcolouringpages,craftideasandprojects,visitDLTK’ssiteat:http://dltk-kids.com/

DO IT bIg bEFORE YOU DO IT SMALL…

• Tryusinglargepaperonthewall,aneaselorthefloorasyourcanvas

• Tryusingsidewalkchalk

• Trymakingshapesandletterswithyourfingerinshavingcreamduringbathtime

• Trydrawinginthesandatthebeachorinasandbox

You can find letter tracing activities on the One Kids Place website: www.onekidsplace.ca

SAME AnD DIFFEREnT

nAME:

circle the picture that is the same as the first One.

MAKIng LInES

DRAw A LInE TO COnnECT THE AnIMAL wITH THE FOOD THAT IT EATS.

Does your child like these kinds of activities? If so, visit the One Kids Place webpage www.onekidsplace.ca/ for links to even more fun!

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gROSS MOTOR DEVELOPMEnTAL MILESTOnES

3AT 3 YEARS OF AgE:

• Throwasmallballforwardinanoverhandmotion10feetforward

• Catchamediumsizedballwithbothhands

• Standononefootfor5seconds

• Walk,run,turnandstopandbegintocoordinatethesemovements

• Jumpforward26incheswithatwo-footedtakeoffandlanding

• Walkforwardonastraightlinewithoutsteppingofffor8feet

• Walkheeltotoeratherthan‘toewalking’ontheballsofthefeet

AT 4 YEARS OF AgE:

• Throwasmallballunderhandfor10feet

• Usinganoverhandtoss,hitsatarget5feetaway

• Standandbalanceononefoot

• Holdingarmsoverhead,balanceontiptoes

• Walk,run,turnandstopandcoordinatethesemovementsinactivitiessuchasridingabike, skating or swimming.

• Takingoffandlandingontwofeet,jumpforward30inches

• Hopforwardononefoot,thentheotherfoot

• Walkforwardsand5stepsbackwardsonastraightline

• Walkheeltotoeratherthan‘toewalking’ontheballsofthefeet

3Folio, R. M. & Fewell, R. R. (2002). Peabody motor development chart. Austin, Texas: Pro ed.

Ifyourchildisnotmeetingoneormoreofthemilestones

listed above, please contact One Kids Place for more

information about how our services may be able to help

support your child’s development. The contact information

for the One Kid’s Place Childrens Treatment Centre location

in your area can be found on the last page of this booklet.

ACTIVITIES FOR gROSS MOTOR DEVELOPMEnT

SIMOn SAYS

Forthisgame,onepersontakesontheroleof‘Simon’and suggests actions to the other players by saying:

“Simonsays(ANYKINDOFFUNACTIONHERE)”, towhicheveryoneelsedoeswhat“Simonsays”.

Some ideas for actions include:

“Simon says”:

…clap your hands …touch your nose …jump as high as you can …turn around …balance on one foot

‘Simon’alsotriestotricktheotherplayersbygivingactionsthatdon’tstartbysaying“Simonsays”.Remember,onlydotheactionsif“Simonsays”!

Taketurnsplaying“Simon”.

THE LInE gAME

Creatingalineonthefloorwithmaskingtapeordrawing a line with chalk on the sidewalk, you and your child can run, walk, dance, gallop or skip along it.

Youcanalsomakeacurvylineoronethatzigzagsfora fun challenge.

RED LIgHT, gREEn LIgHT

This game can be played with two or more people.

1. The game starts with the children lining up on one side of the room with one person who is chosenas‘It’standsontheotherside.

2. Thepersonwhois‘It’facesawayfromtheother playersandcallsout“redlight”or“greenlight”. As“greenlight”iscalled,thoseplayersonthe line across the room try to run to tag the person whois‘It’.

3. Whenthepersonwhois‘It’says“redlight”, he or she must jump around face the other playerswhothenhavetofreeze.Iftheperson whois‘it’seessomeonemovingwhilethereis redlight,‘it’mustcallthepersonbynameand that person has to go back at the starting line.

Thefirstpersontotagthepersonwhois‘it’isthewinnerofthegame.Thispersonthengetstobe‘it’forthenextround.

FREEzE DAnCE

Forthisactivity,youwillneedamusicplayer,yourchild’s favourite music and an open space to move around freely.

Playing with two or more people, start the music and dance, dance, dance!

Stop the music suddenly and then the dancers must freezeuntilyoustartthemusicagain.Encourageyourchild to try dancing up high, down low and all around the room.

MIRRORIng gAME

This is a partner activity where one personisthe‘leader’and one person is the ‘follower’.

The‘leader’facesthe‘follower’andbeginsmoving slowly. Start with using arms and hands,andthe‘follower’mirrorsthemovementofthe‘leader’tryingtofollowthemovementsexactly.

When using hands and arms becomes too easy, you can include use of the whole body, moving up high and downlow.Taketurnsbeingthe‘leader’and the‘follower’.

QUICK RESOURCES

MOVIng AnD gROwIng

ThisbookseriescreatedbytheCanadianInstituteofChildHealthandtheCanadianChildCareFederationisavailableatminimalcostfromyourlocalOneKidsPlace.Itisawonderfulguideforageappropriatephysicalactivitiesandgamesthatyou and your child can do together.

health canada

www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/paguide/child_youth TheHealthCanadawebsitehasCanada’sPhysicalActivityGuideforChildrenandYouth.

DID YOU KnOw?

Manyoftheactivitiesinthisbooklethelptobuildmanydevelopmentalskills.Forinstance,SharedReading.

SharedReadingcanhelpimprove:

FINEMOTORSKILLS Turning pages individually help your child to develop fine muscle control.

GROSSMOTORSKILLS Byactingoutorroleplayingwhatishappeninginthebook,yourchildispracticinggrossmotorskills.

SPEECHANDLANGUAGE Discussing pictures and identifying letters and sounds, your child is practicing speech and language skills.

Shared reading can also happen within your community at places like your public library where you and your child may haveopportunitiestosocializewithotherparentsandchildrenasyouenjoyavarietyofbooks.

Does your child like these kinds of activities? If so, visit the One Kids Place webpage www.onekidsplace.ca/ for links to even more fun!

CREATIng An ACTIVITY MEnU

With so many activity choices, a menu is a great way to encourage your child to have a choice in what activity he or she wants to participate. Choose a wide variety of activities for your menu when your child has some free time and wants to play.

LOWENERGYACTIVITIESReading,colouring,paintingandpuzzlesareallgoodlowenergyactivitieswhenyourchildfeelslikedoingacalmorquietactivity.

HIGHENERGYACTIVITIESObstaclecourses,dancing,playingballandrunninggames,liketag,areallactivitiesthatrequirehighenergy.

HELPINGACTIVITIES Helpingwithchoreslikematchingsocks,helpingtopour,measureandstirwhencookingandsettingthetablearegreat activities where your child gets to do something meaningful to contribute to daily household activity.

OUTDOORACTIVITIES Goingtothepark,bikingandhikingareallgreatwaystogetsomefreshairandalsotogetachancetoseewhatis happening in your community.

Visit the One Kids Place website to see a sample activity menu and for more information on no cost, low cost and registered programming ideas. www.onekidsplace.ca/

SEPARATIOn AnxIETY

When it is time to start school or any kind of routine where your child is away from you, the whole family goes through an adjustment period. Participating in preschool programs or other social activities in the community helps childrentolearnstructure,routines,andtransitionsinanenvironmentwherethereareexpectations,withFUNastheend goal!

*When starting programming, invest in Kids suggests that you:

1. Talk about what the first day of your new routine will look like, from the car ride, to the program structure, to the names of the caregivers or instructors.

2. Visitthebuilding,classroomorfacilityinadvancetohelpfamiliarizeyour child with the new surroundings.

3. Helpintroduceyourchildtootherchildrenandintroduceyourselftoother parents, as getting to know other people involved in the same programming will help you and your child adjust to the new routine.

4. Allowyourchildtotakeaspecialtoy,blanketorphotographthatwillprovide him or her comfort while away from you.

5. Take time to talk to your child about the positive things that happened during his or her day.

t TheKidsHealthOrganizationsuggestssomewaystomakegoodbyeseasiersuchas:

1. Creating a consistent goodbye ritual where you stay calm and say a loving but firm goodbye, as not following throughbyreturningaftersayinggoodbyewillmakethingsworse.Letyourchildknowthatyouwillbebackbygiving a time frame that he or she will understand (like after snack time).

2. Returningontimeisabsolutelycriticaltohelpyourchildfeelconfidentofyourreturn.

3. Althoughitcanfeelimpossibletoleaveyourchildifheorsheisscreamingandcrying,itisimportanttosayyourgoodbyeandletthechildcareworkerhelpyourchildtransitiontohis/hernewenvironment.Youcanalwayscallandcheckinabout20minutesafteryouleaveasmostchildrenwillhavecalmeddownandmovedon to playing or other activities.

*Invest In Kids Foundation. (2007) Comfort play & teach: A positive approach to parenting every day. Retrieved from http://fnih.investinkids.ca/

t Lyness, D’Arcy. (2006). Kids health: Separation anxiety. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/

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nORTH bAY SITE 400McKeownAvenue,NorthBay,ON,P1B0B2

T705476-KIDS(5437)/1866626-9100•F705474-0127

HUnTSVILLE SITE 100FrankMillerDrive,Unit2,Box7,Huntsville,ON,P1H1H7

T705789-9985/1866232-5559•F705789-1115

PARRY SOUnD SITE 70JosephStreet,Unit304,ParrySound,ON,P2A2G5

T705746-6287•F705746-5324

TIMISKAMIng SITES 30SecondStreetEast,Box5,KirklandLake,ON,P2N1R1

T705572-KIDS(5437)•F705572-6251

213WhitewoodAvenue,NewLiskard,ON,P0J1P0 T705680-KIDS(5437)•F705680-5438

OneKidsPlaceisaproudmemberoftheOntarioAssociationofChildren’sRehabilitationServices(OACRS).

Formoreinformationorreferralsorifyou

haveanyquestions,pleasevisitusat

www.onekidsplace.ca or contact us at the following:

OnE KIDS PLACE