Being a school Teacher and Principal, I often get asked by parents and carers who have children soon starting Kindergarten;
“what should my child be able to do before they start?”
“Is my child ready for school?”
While teachers should never assume any prior knowledge for Kindergarten students, as a parent or carer, there are some things you can think about which may assist in school readiness for your child.
I have put together my top 10 school readiness tips for families and teachers alike to use as a basic guide. This is by no means a hard and fast ruling. Parents and teachers must always remember, all children are different and develop at different speeds. Every family situation is also unique and children’s needs can vary across myriad of circumstances.
Number 1: Preschool
Regular attendance at preschool or a similar structured play-learning environment for at least 2 days per week in the year or even months leading into Kindergarten is strongly encouraged. For most children this will their first experience working with educators and engaging in significant amounts of turn taking and sharing with other children who are not family. This alone develops basic emotional regulation skills, which are essential for a smooth transition into Kindergarten. Pre reschool educators are also well positioned to advise on school readiness and can flag any identifiable issues that parents may not recognise.
Number 2: Age
Children should be 4 or 5 years old when starting school. Turning 5 before school starts is ideal. Turning 5 in Feb/March/April can be ok too, pending the child. Turning 5 in May/June is pushing it, and from July onwards you must wait until the following year, although schools in the Catholic and Independent sector can have their own individual policies and set dates for age upon enrolment.
Number 3: Independence
Without assistance, can your child put on and take off a jumper, put on and take off their shoes, open and close a lunchbox and go to the toilet? If so, then they are well prepared for Kindergarten. If not, this is something to begin working on before starting school. Developing a consistent morning routine with your children is essential for managing anxiety and ensuring everyone gets out the door on time.
Number 4: Reading with your child
It is important that all literature our children engage with is high quality i.e., even adults can enjoy after 30 readings/viewings/listens. Reading at least 1-2 books with your child each day is extremely important to foster a love of reading and develop language skills. I especially love Julia Donaldson and highly recommend her series of stories that have been adapted into short movies. The music, storytelling, and prose is extremely enjoyable for all!
Number 5: Number and letter recognition
Most children from the age of 4 should be able to count to 10 and sing the alphabet, but can they recognise numbers and letters when out of context? Help your child engage with the world around them by reinforcing number and letter recognition when out and about, such as at the shops or petrol station. You might be surprised by how much memory your child is relying on to say or recite numbers and letters, so presenting these in random will indicate if they can truly recognise the symbols.
Number 6: Sing, play and dance
Children naturally learn through singing, playing, and dancing. Whilst as we grow older we develop self-consciousness when trying new things, children generally love and thrive when doing creative activities. Music is especially powerful at activating more parts of the brain than any other activity and should be nurtured from the early years.
Number 7: Velcro shoes
Whilst we’d all love our Kindergarten children to be able to tie their shoelaces independently on day 1 of school, the reality is this skill takes a number of years to master. Velcro shoes are strongly recommended for the first 2-3 years of primary school, or at least until the child can independently tie their shoelaces. I’ll admit this is as much about the school staff as the students. Teachers much prefer to devote their time to teaching their charges, rather than tying dozens of shoelaces numerous times per day (let alone boys shoelaces following a visit to the bathroom!).
Number 8: Fine motor skills
In Kindergarten, children will be using pencils, markers, and scissors frequently throughout the day. Activities like threading beads, using playdough, puzzles and building blocks can all assist children develop their fine motor skills which will support their pencil grip as they learn to write. Pre school educators often advise on pencil grip habits in the months leading up to Kindergarten, so speak to your child’s educator should you wish to know how they are developing in this area.
Number 9: Limit “active” screen time
There is a difference between passive screen time (e.g., television) and active screen time (e.g. a tablet/phone). The less screen time overall the better for young children, with passive screen time strongly preferred overactive screen time. As adults we are all aware of the addictive nature of screen and app use on devices. Children will have their entire lives to explore social media and technology but have only 1 childhood which should be protected and nurtured. 1 hour of screen time per day is recommended, but is highly unachievable in my opinion (especially in times of lockdown). In our house, we try to ensure there is no more than 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening, with slightly more in the evening on weekends to accommodate a movie viewing.
Number 10: Don’t compare to other children
All children are different and develop at different tempos to one another. Whilst milestones are important to be aware of, don’t panic if there are other children who appear more highly developed than your child. Meet your child at their level and maintain an open dialogue with your child’s teachers, follow their advice and consult a medical professional for a specialist referral if you have genuine concerns about your child’s development.
Yours in Education,
Chris English
Chris English 