When parents ask teachers what skills their child needs before entering school, the answer isn’t necessarily their “ABCs” and “123s.” There are other skills that will support your children’s learning and ensure school readiness. Parents are their children’s first and best teachers, and they can support their children’s learning by setting a strong foundation with these skills from ages 3-5.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but a starting point for parents (and teachers) who aren’t exactly sure what kids should be practising before entering school. Below each skill are practical ways you can support your child’s skill development. What have you already starting teaching your child?
Taking Turns and Sharing with Others
After the age of 3, children start to understand how to share and taking turns. They will by no means by experts at this point, but this is a great time to start modelling and practising these skills.
You can help your child by:
- Modelling through play how to ask politely for a toy and how to wait your turn.
- Reading a book about taking turns and sharing, such as
- Playing simple games such as “Hide and Seek” to practise turn-taking.
Beginning to Manage Big Emotions
Toddlers are known for having big emotions. It’s important that both parents and teachers explain (and model) how to identify and deal with big emotions.
You can help your child by:
- Read a book to help children identify and compare emotions such as “The Way I Feel.”
- When your child is calm, model with your face, body and language what different emotions look like. Model how to express their emotions in a phrase or sentence, such as “I feel angry.”
- Show your child calm down techniques such as deep breathing or cuddling a soft toy.
Ask Questions and Express Needs
Toddlers are naturally very inquisitive, and you may find that your toddler is already asking you lots of questions about the world around them. Help them learn how to ask questions and express their needs by:
- Modeling to them appropriate ways to ask questions and role playing how to do it. (For example, “Mummy, help please?” when your toddler needs something)
- Model to them turn-taking in conversation and how to patiently wait for attention from parents.
- When they ask questions about the world around them, take time to discuss their questions and to observe what they see, hear, smell, taste and feel (engage their five senses.) This will encourage their desire to learn!
Basic Book Skills and a Love for Reading
It’s never too early to read to your child. To encourage a love for reading and independence, you could provide your child with a special reading corner or reading chair. You could also provide a bookshelf so they can access their books on their own.
You can help your child by:
- Showing children how to hold a book, how to read from left to right and how to turn the page.
- Reading a variety of books on a regular basis, such as storybooks as apart of the bedtime routine or non-fiction books before naptime.
- Reading with expression to engage your child in the book.
- Does your child speak multiple languages? Provide books and ample reading time to practise reading, listening to and speaking those languages!
Hand Strength and Dexterity
Strengthening little hands is important so that children can hold and use pencils once they reach school age. There are a number of ways you can help your child strengthen their hands.
You can help your child by:
- Modeling to your child how to manipulate playdough and use playdough tools in a variety of ways.
- Introducing safety scissors to cut scraps of paper and cardboard.
- Having your child pick up, play with and pull apart lego pieces, beads, puzzle pieces, ribbon and other objects of various textures.
- Have you child practise using utensils such as spoons, knives and forks.
Independence with Daily Tasks:
Toddlers crave autonomy and desire to do tasks on their own. Resist the temptation to complete all difficult tasks for them. Through some explicit instruction and guidance, give them opportunities to try difficult tasks on their own. This will encourage curiosity, resilience and a willingness to try new things.
You can help your child by:
- Teaching them how to use the toilet, wipe themselves and wash their hands on their own.
- Modelling to them how to open and close their lunchbox, drink bottle and backpack.
- Showing them how to complete everyday tasks independently, such as putting on their shoes or placing socks in the sock drawer.
Follow Simple Instructions
Children need lots of opportunities to rehearse simple one-step instructions, so give them opportunities to practise this every day. Setting daily routines at home helps toddlers begin to follow simple instructions. Some examples of simple routines:
- Having your child take their plate or bowl to the sink after meals.
- Asking your child to place their shoes on a shoe rack and wash their hands when they come home from the park or a playdate.
- Having your child clean up toys before moving to another activity.
Separating from Parents with Confidence
Separating from parents for the first time can be stressful for both toddlers and their parents. Here are some ways you can prepare your children for being away from mum and dad and encourage school readiness:
- Arrange playdates with other children from your child’s class or school.
- Discuss who will be there to help them, care for them and play with them.
- If you have family or close friends who are willing to take children out for fun excursions, this is a great way to have them practise time away from parents as well!
Gross Motor Skills
It’s no secret that children desire to move their bodies by running, jumping and playing! Give them opportunities to do this by:
- Taking them to the park to play on slides, swings, balance beams and other activites that require using their whole body.
- Providing activities that require balance, such as mountain climbing stones from kmart.
- Taking them to swimming lessons, going on family walks or joining a sports group for toddlers.
How to Cope with Change
Change can be difficult for children, so prepare them for upcoming changes by having conversations with your children and practising new routines. Some ways you can do this:
- Explain the pick-up and drop-off routine
- Read books about starting school such as “The Kissing Hand” or “First Day.” Check out this link for more book ideas!
- Ask your child how they feel about starting school and discuss any negative feelings they may have regarding school
Did you find this list helpful? What have you already started doing to help your toddler with school readiness? For more resources on how to support your child in their learning, check out my online store or additional blog posts.
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