Kindergarten Readiness Bags
Johnson County Public Library is providing your future Kindergartener with fun, educational items. We hope you enjoy helping your child get ready for Kindergarten. Parents and caregivers are our children’s first and best teachers.
Johnson County Public Library wants every child to have a solid start to their education! Pick up a Kindergarten Readiness Bag at your JCPL Branch until August 1, 2026.
Open to all children who start Kindergarten the 2026-27 School Year
Bags contain: sidewalk chalk, bubbles, a book, and activity and book information for caregivers (kindergarten reading level book list brochure and a bookmark with activity suggestions).
One per Kindergartener. While Supplies Last.
Pick up your Countdown to Kindergarten calendar! Each include fun activities for you and your child to complete before they start kindergarten. Stop by your local JCPL Branch and grab yours today.
Kindergarten Readiness Tips
1. Build fine motor skills with paper! Kids can cut or tear paper into small pieces (use safety scissors and always supervise kids while they cut!). Use colorful pieces and a glue stick to make a collage. Get more practice at storytime and other library programs where kids can color, cut, glue, and create. See our storytime schedule here.
2. Build emergent math skills! Practice number recognition and writing numbers by visiting your library branch to do our monthly scavenger hunt. Search for colorful pictures labeled 1-10 around the children’s department and practice writing the numbers.
3. Learn your letters and sounds! Have your child practice writing their name – you can guide the hands of kids that aren’t ready to write unassisted. Look for items that start with the same letter as your child’s name. Bring your child to the library to get their first Library Card – the best school readiness tool there is - and write their name on the back.
4. Learn about print concepts! Keep an eye out for printed words in your daily life and point it out to your child. When you are on the road, look for signs, billboards, stores and restaurants. Point out the letters in the LIBRARY sign when you visit.
5. Practice those sight words! Help your kids get started on reading by finding sight words. Sight words are small words that pop up frequently, such as I, am, the, a, is, or we, that kids are expected to recognize on sight. Check out beginning reader books from the I Can Read section of the library and practice identifying sight words. Kids will enjoy Piggie and Elephant, Dr. Seuss, Berenstain Bears, Fly Guy, Biscuit, and more!
6. Follow multi-step directions! When your family visits the library, give your kid multi-step directions to see if they can accomplish three steps. Steps could include: drop return material in the return slot, say hello to the librarians, and find an interesting book.
7. Learn about estimating! Estimate items, snacks, or fruit in a bag at the grocery store, or estimate how many books you check out on your next step to the library!
8. Practice self-regulation skills! Practice taking turns and listening skills at storytime. Check out our Library Guides or visit pageafterpage.org/programs to find a storytime at your library branch. See our storytime schedule here.
9. Read together! Make a habit of reading together 20 minutes every day. Track your reading and earn prizes by participating in 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. Visit pageafterpage.org/1000bbk for more information.
10. Parents and Caregivers: you are your child’s first and best teacher! If you are having fun, your child will have fun too. Visit the children’s department at your library to engage with each other in the Play & Learn area where imaginative activities, puzzles, toys, and crafts are available every day.
11. Model reading yourself, reading books, magazines, or articles off the computer. Use your library card to bring a bag of reading materials home with you today!
More Tips for Caregivers
Center Grove School’s Kindergarten Readiness
Franklin Community School’s Kindergarten Entrance Expectations
