School Readiness
Why is school readiness important?
School readiness is a major milestone for every child and is a measure that demonstrates how prepared a child is to succeed in school.
School readiness isn’t just about being able to write their own name or count to ten. It’s also about developing social, cognitive, and behavioural skills. This can look like making friends, listening attentively or making up their own adventures.
There are eight indicators we look at to prepare children for a positive transition into school:
- Education basics
- Emotional readiness
- Participation in activities
- Knowledge of the environment and their role in it
- Friendships and social adeptness
- Problem-solving, decision-making skills and their ability to seek out assistance
- Ability to explore new ideas
- Confident communication
As childcare educators, we believe it is one of our most vital requirements to prepare your child for their transition to ‘big school’.
How do childcare and kindergarten help with school readiness?
Childcare and kindergarten provide the foundations for becoming a lifelong learner. At Child’s Play, this means preparing them for their first years at school and beyond.
Our curriculum is designed around two pedagogies: the Reggio Emilia approach and the Early Years Learning Framework. These ways of learning encourage exploration, problem-solving, and play-based learning led by the child’s own curiosity and interests.
Our educators also work with local schools to organise school visits and orientation days to help our children become familiar with the next step in their education!
Learn more about kindergarten at Child's Play
How can you help prepare your child for school?
There are many things you can do to support your child’s transition to school, including:
- Talking to your child about what happens at school
- Planning lunches with them
- Teaching them how to dress themselves
- Establish a bedtime and morning routine, allowing plenty of time to get ready in the mornings
- Practice the route you will take when you walk, drive or ride to school
- Show them where you will pick them up at the end of the day
- Make sure you’re always on time for drop-offs and pick-ups
- Be positive and encouraging
If you’re feeling nervous about your child starting school, remember that many parents are in the same boat. Take some time to chat with other parents about the experience.
