How Grandparents Can Help Kids be Kindergarten-Ready
Kindergarten is closer than it seems, and grandparents can do more to help than they might think. Here are five simple, practical ways to get your grandchild ready for their first big school milestone, shared by former kindergarten teacher and founder of Primary Focus, Natalie Parmenter.
Updated July 2026
When I taught kindergarten, I loved seeing how involved and supportive grandparents are today. You can be involved in your grandchild’s education by doing more than just attending school events. Children, especially aged 6 and under, learn incredibly fast, so a little bit of effort can add up quickly to huge developmental gains.
Starting kindergarten is a huge milestone for a young child. There are a lot of firsts which can be overwhelming for a four-, five-, or six-year-old. As their grandparent, you can take small intentional steps to help prepare your grandchild for school. Here are 5 simple ways to prepare your grandchild for kindergarten
1. Help your grandchild practice self-control
Soon they will be exploring a new school and classroom, so knowing how to respect other people’s space is essential. Your home is an excellent place to model this. When your grandchildren visit you, they will naturally have to practice self-control as they navigate your space. Place gentle boundaries with them by using timers and discussing “how many” ahead of time. This way, when they find out they’ve eaten their allotment of cookies, they can practice feeling full instead of begging for more…okay, they still might beg a little.
2. Build your grandchild’s vocabulary
Looking for picture books about starting school? See our picks!
Just as your grandchild had a language explosion when they were a toddler, their brains are ready to learn more advanced language. The simplest way to help your grandchild is to speak to them using an advanced vocabulary. When you talk, use an advanced word and then immediately define it with the simple version. For example: “That flower is lavender, light purple.” “We will have to sprint, run fast, to catch the bus in time.”
3. Improve your grandchild’s fine motor skills
In kindergarten, your grandchild will be asked to grasp pencils and crayons for much longer periods of time than they are used to. This can be physically hard for young children. Incorporate coloring books, activity books, and even old-fashioned worksheets into your routine. Show your grandchild how to write their name and, if they can handle it, the date on their paper.
4. Emphasize responsibility with your grandchild
In kindergarten, your grandchild will be expected to manage their coat, backpack, homework folder, and lunchbox on a daily basis. This can be a huge ask for children and cause a ton of frustration. To prevent this, help your grandchild learn to manage their items. You could start simple with one item like their water bottle, and build this over time. They will need your help with this, but the more they are used to having items to look after, the less likely they are to forget their winter coat at school.
5. Small ways to support your grandchild's early academic skills
And of course, this article wouldn’t be complete without mentioning academic skills. If you taught in elementary school during your career, the good news is that kindergarten hasn’t changed that much. There are two big changes. The main change is that we hope for children to be reading simple books by the end of kindergarten. The best way to support this is by reading to them often!
The other big difference is that we ask children to be able to explain their thinking. We don’t just want children to memorize their addition facts: they should be able to show the process they used to solve the problem. You can support your grandchild by having in depth conversations and modeling how to explain their answer. It might sound something like this: I know 5 + 2 is 7 because 5 + 1 makes 6, and one more makes 7.
A little bit of intention goes a long way with young children. If you try these tips consistently, you should see the benefits quickly. For more tips on preparing your grandchild for kindergarten, check out my video on supporting young children with academic skills here and social emotional skills here. Make sure to leave a comment saying you found me on More Than Grand!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can grandparents help a grandchild prepare for kindergarten?
Grandparents can help in several meaningful ways: building vocabulary through conversation, practicing fine motor skills with coloring and writing activities, emphasizing responsibility with small tasks, and reading together often. Consistency matters most: small, intentional efforts repeated regularly add up quickly for young children.
What skills does a child need before starting kindergarten?
Kindergarten teachers look for children who can manage their own belongings, follow simple instructions, interact respectfully with others, and sit and focus for short periods. Academic skills like recognizing letters and numbers are helpful, but social and emotional readiness is equally important and often harder to develop quickly.
How can grandparents build a grandchild's vocabulary before school?
Simply talk with them using slightly advanced language, then define the new word immediately in simpler terms. For example: "That color is crimson: a deep, bright red." Children this age are primed for a language explosion, and conversations with grandparents are one of the best ways to fuel it.
What fine motor activities help kids prepare for kindergarten?
Coloring, drawing, cutting with child-safe scissors, and practicing writing their name are all excellent options. The goal is building the hand strength and control children need to hold a pencil comfortably for longer stretches, something kindergarten will require of them every day.
How do grandparents help grandchildren with self-control?
While children aged five and under can only be expected to pay attention for five to ten minutes at a time, grandparents' homes are a natural place to practice that skill. Setting gentle, clear expectations ahead of time (using timers, discussing limits before activities begin) gives children a chance to practice managing their impulses in a safe, loving environment. That practice pays off when they're navigating a busy classroom full of new people and rules.
Natalie Parmenter is the founder of Primary Focus: The Parent’s Guide to Elementary School where she publishes a newsletter, videos, & educational content to help parents of elementary school children. She was an elementary school teacher for ten years and spent most of her career teaching kindergarten. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two cats.
