What It Means To Be Ready?

“Ready or not, here I come!” This is a common phrase we hear used by young children in their play. It takes on a whole new meaning; however, when we use it to refer to a child who is entering kindergarten. National, state, and local efforts struggle with defining “school readiness.” In 1999, the National Education Goals Panel identified five areas that are important to a child’s successful start to school:

1. Children’s health and well-being
2. Social and emotional development
3. Approaches to learning
4. Language development
5. General knowledge about the world around them

The “academics” usually considered part of the definition of readiness was not specifically included. This is because these items can be taught and learned by any child whose needs in the five areas have been met. This approach to readiness is often referred to as “developmentally appropriate practices.”

In a recent study, 92% of kindergarten teachers ranked healthy, rested and well-nourished children as the number one quality of successful kindergartners. More than half of the teachers rated the following as essential to school readiness:

• Vision, hearing and dental problems are detected and addressed
• A child knows his name and has a basic awareness of self, family and community
• A child can follow basic rules and routines

It is never too early to start providing the kinds of experiences that will help a child enter school ready and eager to succeed. Children are born ready to learn. They are naturally curious beings. Children learn best through their everyday experiences with the people they love and trust, and when learning is fun.

Parents/guardians and preschool teachers make a dynamic team when it comes to preparing children for school. An adult’s support, interest, and enthusiasm go a long way to giving a child self-esteem which is key to preparedness. A child will often display these skills prior to entering kindergarten: