Countdown to
KINDERGARTEN

The Smart Kids Guide to Reading Readiness

Reading is the single most important skill your child will learn in school. Kids who enter kindergarten with lots of early language experiences—talking, listening, word-play, knowing letters and how books work—have a head start on the road to reading.

Countdown to Kindergarten (C2K) is the pre-K program that gives your child these valuable experiences, along with the social and emotional skills to help them stay focused, calm, and ready to learn.

Because parents play a critical role in preparing children for school, C2K provides you with the tools to help your child develop the skills they’ll need for kindergarten success.

Topics & Skills

C2K is an “evidence-based” program, which means it has been developed using the most up-to-date research available. It is organized into the following sections, each one representing an important pre-reading skill:

Sounds in Language

The Alphabet

Writing

Conversations

Emotions

Struggling Learners

The sections are presented in sequential order, allowing you to build on your child’s knowledge as you go through the program. Each section follows a similar pattern that includes a brief explanation, a video demonstration to guide you, and suggested activities intended to be fun and engaging. The last section offers guidance if you find your child is struggling with the other sections.

Trust Yourself

Keep in mind that there are many different ways to practice these essential skills, so if your child is not enjoying an activity, try another. You know your child better than anyone, so don’t be afraid to try new and different approaches!

“Almost all children learn to speak naturally; reading and writing must be taught.”

– Dr. Reid Lyon