For parents & families
Getting ready for kindergarten
Kindergarten readiness is everyday skills — taking care of yourself, getting along with others, using your hands and body — plus the early reading and counting children build through play. Here are free guides and simple ways to help.
What "ready" means
The Indiana Department of Education's Kindergarten Readiness Overview lists skills like these:
- Getting alongTakes turns, follows guidance, and uses words to express feelings.
- Taking care of themselvesHandles restroom needs and hand washing, feeds themselves, and fastens clothes and shoes, as able.
- Moving and using their handsHolds writing tools correctly; runs, hops and changes direction.
- Early reading and writingRecognizes their own name in print, knows letters have sounds, and writes their name.
- Early mathCounts to 20 and recognizes numbers 1 to 10.
Simple ways to help at home
- Read every dayRead to your child, and ask questions about the story.
- Talk togetherTalk with your child, and encourage conversations with other adults and children.
- Make room to createGive your child chances to scribble, draw and create.
- Cheer them onPraise effort and curiosity when your child tries new things.
Source: Indiana Department of Education, Kindergarten Readiness Overview(opens in new tab).
Free printable guides
From the Indiana Department of Education. Each is also available in Spanish.
- Kindergarten Readiness Overview(opens in new tab)
A readiness checklist, plus early reading, writing and math skills and how to help at home.
- Early Learning Family Guides(opens in new tab)
Eight short guides — from language and math to health and play — each with ways families can help at home.
- Racing Into Kindergarten(opens in new tab)
Activities to help children and families get ready for the move to kindergarten.
Free things to do in Owen County
Story times at the library
The Owen County Public Library holds story times for babies and toddlers and for preschoolers. See the library's kids page(opens in new tab) for days and times.
A free book in the mail every month
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library mails a free book every month to Owen County children.
- AgesFrom birth until they turn 5
- CostFree to enroll
- First bookAllow 8 to 12 weeks
- Brought to Owen County byUnited Way of South Central Indiana
Enrolling in kindergarten
In Indiana, it comes down to your child's age on August 1 of the school year your child would start:
5 on or before August 1 | Turns 5 after August 1 |
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5 on or before August 1
- Indiana schools must offer kindergarten.
Turns 5 after August 1
- Enrollment is a local school decision.
Source: Indiana Department of Education(opens in new tab).
Registration dates and steps are set by each school district, so contact yours:
Spencer-Owen Community Schools
Cloverdale Elementary (Cloverdale Community Schools)
More from the state: Kindergarten information for families(opens in new tab).
Looking for preschool first?
Pre-K and child care options are all on our family resources page.
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