Have a rising kindergartner? Some links to get them ready

Will your little one make the big step to kindergarten this fall? My younger one has another year, but the director of her preschool shared a link from Durham Public Schools the other day. I thought I'd share it with you.

It's a year-long calendar of activities and suggested books. There's everything from counting items at the grocery store to finding purple items around your home to letter identification. I've already printed it out for my daughter. I might just make it her "homework," since she's always wishing she had some like her big sister.

Wake County schools' Project Enlightenment also has some great online links for getting kids ready for kindergarten.

One of my very favorite tips for kindergarten readiness that I never really considered when my older one was headed to kindergarten: Make sure your kids can open containers and milk cartoons that they'll use at lunch.

In related news: Marbles Kids Museum will hold its popular Kick-off to Kindergarten for rising kindergartners at year-round schools, who start school as early as July, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., June 26. The free event for rising kindergartners and their families lets kids hop on a school bus, participate in circle time and more. It's slated for Aug. 16 for kids in traditional calendar schools.

Durham schools holds a Countdown to Kindergarten event at the Museum of Life and Science in August.