School Readiness: Why It’s Important for Preschoolers to Be Prepared

Ever since your child turned three, you probably started hearing all about school readiness skills, and what kindergarteners are expected to know. You may have heard they need to have all sorts of over the top skills before they go to kindergarten, and you’re not really sure why a kindergartener needs to know all these things.

Your preschooler doesn’t need to master every skill you’ve heard through the grapevine was an absolute must before going to kindergarten, but there are some reasons why it’s important for your preschooler to be prepared, and start school with a foundation of important skills.

WHAT ARE SCHOOL READINESS SKILLS?

School readiness skills are skills that will benefit your preschooler’s experience in school, such as:

Language/Literacy Skills

• Speaking in full sentences
• Recognizing rhyming words
• Recognizing many letters
• Writing their name

Social/Emotional Skills

• Sharing
• Showing kindness/respect
• Controlling emotional outbursts

Motor/Personal Skills

• Using scissors
• Putting together puzzles
• Using the bathroom alone

Math/Problem Solving Skills

• Knowing number 1-10
• Knowing basic shapes
• Arranging objects by size

Art/Music Skills

• Knowing primary colors
• Enjoying music

Science/Social Studies Skills

• Knowing your contact information
• Being able to identify animals
• Noticing similarities in items

HOW DO SCHOOL READINESS SKILLS PREPARE MY PRESCHOOLER?

Easier Transition

Being prepared for school is important in giving your preschooler the confidence they need to succeed. Preschoolers often attend small schools, or may be homeschooled. Going into kindergarten can already be overwhelming, and without having the proper skills to take it on, your preschooler may start off with a negative outlook on school.

Create A Love Of Learning

Having certain skills will give your preschooler a strong foundation to continue to build on. If your preschooler hasn’t built any of these skills, trying to teach them additional skills may make them feel like they will never catch up, and discourage them from wanting to learn at all.

When your preschooler doesn’t feel like they are constantly trying to catch up to everyone else, they will feel more accomplished about what they’re doing, which will create a love of learning that can stick with them for a lifetime when properly nourished.

Connect With Others

If your preschooler enters school without proper social skills, it may affect their ability to properly connect with others, and ultimately lead to a bad experience with education. Your preschooler should understand the importance of:

HOW CAN I HELP PREPARE MY PRESCHOOLER?

Children’s brains develop at a faster rate between the ages 2 and 5 than for the entire rest of their lives, so making sure your child gets a quality early education is important. Sending your child to a great preschool is a great start, but if you want to help your preschooler develop their skills at home, check out our article KINDERGARTEN READINESS ACTIVITIES TO PREPARE YOUR PRESCHOOLER.