Is Your Child Ready for School?

Children who are ready for school are:

• happy playing with others
• eager to learn
• beginning to take responsibility for themselves and others
• beginning to be independent
• curious
• learning to cooperate

You can encourage your child's readiness for school in the following ways:

Physical Development and Well-being

You can help your child to:

• learn to get dressed on his own
• learn to use the bathroom without help
• get a good night's sleep
• eat healthy food
• be active

General Knowledge and Cognitive Skills

You can help your child by:

• showing her that it is exciting to learn new things
• letting him ask lots of questions
• encouraging her to play with many toys and materials (beads, clay, leaves)

Effective Language and Communication Skills

You can help your child to:

• talk about what she needs
• use "I" messages ("I feel angry when you take my toy")
• learn to take turns by talking with your child and listening to what he has to say

Healthy Social and Emotional Development

You can help your child by:

• helping him be comfortable away from you
• helping her learn to play, share and make new friends
• giving him a few easy clean up chores (putting away shoes)
• showing her how to take care of her things
• showing him how you calm down when you get upset (take a break, talk it through)
• helping her focus her attention when needed (how to brush her teeth, safety)
• establishing routines and sticking to them

Beginning Literacy and Numeracy Skills

You can help your child by:

• helping her learn to love books and stories by reading with her and talking about the story and pictures
• letting him see you read for different reasons ( recipes, maps, and signs )
• giving her materials to write and draw
• letting him see you write for many different reasons ( grocery lists, cards, messages, cheques, and calendars)
• showing her the 'math' in her world (board games, cards, reading recipes, sorting laundry, setting the table, counting)
• reading to your child every day

You are your child's first and most important teacher!

Your child has learned an incredible amount before coming to school, from you and from all the experiences he has had.

It is the school's goal to build on your child's early learning in partnership with you and others involved with your child.

The school is ready for your child!

The school is ready to accept and meet the needs of your child. Kindergarten teachers are ready and willing to support children with different skill levels, experiences and diverse family and cultural backgrounds.

You can be confident that the school will build on all the important learning that have helped your child gain before coming to Kindergarten!

The first day of school is an exciting day for both you and your child. There are many ways that you can help prepare for the transition.

What should my child know?

Children do not need to have specific knowledge or skills to begin school. However, it is helpful if they are able to:

• Share and know how to take their turn
• Cooperate and play well with others
• Listen and pay attention for short periods of time
• Speak and ask for what they need
• Recognize their own name and answer to it
• Help out and pick up and put away classroom materials and toys after activity time
• Dress and undress themselves
• Use the toilet independently and clean themselves
• Play by themselves with toys for a period of time without needing adult attention
• Be away from their parent for brief periods and understand that parents will come back

What can I do to help at home?

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario offers the following suggestions to help your child get ready for school:

• Teach new skills through familiar activities (e.g. counting, sorting)
• Set behavioural limits and be consistent and fair with discipline
• Encourage you child to accept responsibility for personal hygiene, dressing, and tidying up
• Provide your child with a well-balanced diet
• Set a specific bedtime -- ten to twelve hours of sleep is recommended for young children
• Provide opportunities for indoor and outdoor play and exercise
• Review safety rules often
• Monitor your child's television viewing choices
• Set up an area in your home where your child can sit to do quiet activities
• Take time each day to listen to your child share experiences about their day
• Provide opportunities for your child to spend time with other children
• Encourage your child to draw and experiment with writing
• Write your child's name on all personal belongings that he/she will take to school