When we talk about a child being school-ready, it usually means that the child has developed the specific set of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive abilities required to study, work, and function successfully in school.

At Childcare Matraville, we understand the different challenges children face at different stages of life, and we want the early experiences for your child to be enjoyable and meaningful. We’ll help your child develop strong senses of identity, belonging, connection, and contribution, all of which are essential for becoming ready for school and beyond.

Signs of School Readiness in a Child

• Being able to adorn oneself
• Independently using the restroom
• Recognizing appropriate conduct
• Self-belief and assurance
• Detaching from parents or caregivers.
• Ability to communicate and listen to others
• Ability to think critically and creatively while actively learning

Factors Affecting Child’s School Readiness

1. Lack of Self-regulation

It is the capability to achieve, maintains, and regulate emotion, attention, behavior, and activity level necessary for a given task or setting.

2. Communication Problem

It is the lack of ability to communicate or speak in a way that others can understand and interpret. Also, how a child responds to language, interpretation, and comprehension of spoken words are factors to consider.

3. Low Sensitivity and Processing

Sensory processing refers to the appropriate processing of sensory stimulation received from the outside world and one’s own body. It affects learning and attention and how a child sits, holds a pencil, and pays lessons in the classroom.

4. Poor Articulation

This refers to a child’s lack of ability to enunciate each sound in a word clearly.

5. Low-Level Reasoning

Inability to think of what to do as and when due. An example of executive functioning involves higher-order reasoning and thinking abilities like what do I need to pack for school?

6. Lack of Good Emotional development/regulation

The capacity to recognize and integrate emotions into thought, comprehend emotions, and manage emotions, especially in a child’s difficult times.

7. Lack of Social Skills

Social skills are characterized by a child’s capability to communicate reciprocally with others, to reach agreements with them, and adhere to social standards.

8. Poor Planning and Task Execution

When a child cannot plan and execute simple or complex tasks and activities systematically with a clearly stated end goal.

Signs That Your child is Not School Ready

• Being socially immature, such as being unwilling to share or adapt to the evolving rules of a game in progress or having low expressive/receptive language abilities.
• Difficulty following directions in day-to-day tasks.
• Relying on parents to take care of personal needs like dressing
• Having no toilet training (daytime).
• Struggling to finish projects as quickly as their friends
• Not understanding the effects of their actions.
• Showing no interest in reading books or engaging in other sitting-related activities.
• Not getting along with their classmates (either in or out of the classroom)
• Having poor playing skills and are unable to adapt their play to include new playthings or players.
• Being wary of trying anything new.

Conclusion

As much as you want your child to be school ready, you must understand that every child’s ability to grow and learn varies. There is no cause for alarm if your child displays one or two signs of unreadiness.