Articles
Kindergarten readiness: Help your child prepare
Why is kindergarten readiness important?
How can I tell if my child is ready for kindergarten?
Are there benefits to delaying a child's enrollment in kindergarten?
What can I do to help my child succeed in kindergarten?
Content
What is school readiness?
Readiness testing
Delayed enrollment
What is the parent's role in school readiness?
What is school readiness?
School readiness isn't easy to define. Typical development can vary significantly among children around the ages of 4 and 5. And a child's development in one skill doesn't necessarily translate into development in others.
However, there are milestones in childhood development that can help make the transition to the kindergarten classroom more successful. Children are likely to have some readiness in:
- Demonstrating a curiosity or interest in learning new things
- Being able to explore new things through their senses
- Taking turns and cooperating with peers
- Speaking with and listening to peers and adults
- Following instructions
- Communicating how they're feeling
- Empathizing with other children
- Controlling impulses
- Paying attention
- Limiting disruptive behaviors
These skills develop over time, depending on the individual child's abilities and experiences. As a result, school readiness might best be understood not as a single goal but as a process — providing early childhood experiences and an environment that prepares them to learn.
