Travel Entertainment: Testing for Kindergarten

Out of all the questions I get asked about travel, the number one request seems to be suggestions for entertainment. Parents are always looking for things to do to help the miles pass before arriving at their destination.

My husband and I love to travel and introduce our children to new cities, sights and sounds. We want them to remain curious about our planet and see there is an entire world outside the limits of our state. On a spectrum closer to home, we live in an era where education is at the forefront of parents’ minds. My husband and I are currently in a toss up between schools and since our children are at the beginning of their education years we want to make the best choice.

And that’s where today’s topic comes in…You may remember Author Karen Quinn who up until now has written several fun fiction books.

Her newest non-fiction book just came out this summer. It’s called Testing for Kindergarten: Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Ace The Tests For Public Schools placement, Private School Admissions, Gifted Program Qualifications.

This topic rings close to home, as I’ve recently met parents who are discouraged because their child didn’t pass school testing. The children are considered “average” but they struggled with basic questions such how many seasons are there? Or they didn’t know the difference between an oval and circle. In the end, the test results weren’t high enough.

How do you know your child is prepared for kindergarten testing? Do they know basic problem solving skills? What about math? According to Karen’s book, don’t invest in a tutor to prepare for the actual testing. In the long-run this can be damaging for the child and their school performance, as they may be placed in a higher level than they are ready for. What you can do is help your child develop and enhance their testing abilities.

That’s what’s so great about Testing for Kindergarten. It is loaded with games and learning techniques (not teaching children to pass the test). And that’s where travel comes in. The next time you’re on a road trip of any length or sitting on an airplane indulge your child with games from this book. He or she will think they are playing while in fact you are teaching them basic school preparation.

Curious what’s inside the book? Here are some of the “games” you can play:

How many ways can you describe a…  In this game, you’ll take turns with your child describing something.  When one player can’t think of another synonym, use for, or key feature of the item, that person loses.  Example: The object is a car.  Child: You drive it.  You: It has four wheels.  Child: It has a trunk.  You: It goes very fast.  Child: It takes you where you want to go.  You: I can’t think of anything else.   You win! Age 2.5+.

I’m thinking of something…Here, you and your child take turns thinking of something and describing it until the other person guesses.  1) You: I’m thinking of something that’s white, soft, on your bed, and you put your head on it.  Child: Pillow.  You: You’re right! Now it’s your turn. 2) Child: I’m thinking of something that has four legs, fur, and barks.  You: Gosh, I’m not sure.  Can you give me another clue?  Child: It likes to eat bones.  You:  A dog?  Child: You’re right! Good job. Ages 2.5+.

Alike and Different – You and your child will take turns giving clues about how two things are alike and different:  1) You: How is a lemon like an egg yolk?  Child: You eat them.  And they’re both yellow.  You:  Good job.  Now it’s your turn. 2) Child: How is a sweater like a coat?  You:  You wear them both and they keep you warm.  Child:  That’s right! Age 2.5+.

I think this was a brilliant book to develop and I look forward to utilizing Testing for Kindergarten on our upcoming road trip.

About the author: Karen Quinn is the author of Testing for Kindergarten: Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Ace the Tests for: Public School Placement, Private School Admissions, Gifted Program Qualification (Copyright © 2010 by Karen Quinn) and has tutored scores of children and taught hundreds of parents how to work with their own kids to prepare them for the rigorous kindergarten admissions tests for Manhattan’s most in-demand programs.  She has been a featured expert on school admissions on ABC’s 20/20 and The View and in The New York Times, Forbes, Redbook, Woman’s Day, and more.  She now lives in Miami Beach with her husband and two children.