School Readiness

Parents and caregivers can do a lot to help prepare their child for Kindergarten before the first day. Below is a list of skills that will be useful for children starting Kindergarten. We recognise that not all children will have these skills as everyone develops at a different pace, so this is intended only as a guide so that starting school might just be a little easier.

Encourage your child to attempt the things mentioned below, but don't worry if your child can't do all of them. Talk to the Kindergarten teacher, and together you can support and assist your child's learning.

The following are some suggestions on ways to help your child in a specific area of learning.

Language

Here are some suggestions to help your child develop language skills:

  • talk to other people about familiar objects and events

  • answer and asks simple questions

  • make needs known

  • follow simple instructions

  • use books for enjoyment or for looking at pictures

  • identify pictures in books, magazines, on television or video

  • use a variety of things (pens, pencils, textas, paintbrushes, sticks in the dirt) to draw, to scribble or to write

  • join in singing familiar songs

Mathematics

Here are some suggestions to help your child develop skills in mathematics:

  • recognise that numbers can be used to count - uses words such as many, a lot, more, less

  • identify things in a group that are different

  • see differences in shapes

  • differentiate between opposites - up and down, under and over, in front and behind, day and night

Physical skills

Here are some suggestions to help your child develop physical coordination:

  • use scissors to cut along a straight line

  • enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor play

  • can put on and take off jumpers, shoes, socks independently

  • can they open and close a lunchbox or small containers

  • make and design things using a variety of materials

Social/Emotional/Personal Development

Here are some suggestions to help your child with their personal development:

  • set up play dates for your child to play with a friend

  • have time away from parents with carers, grandparents, friends and so on

  • show them what resilience looks like

  • encourage them to pack and carry their own bag to childcare

  • allow them to make some of the decisions, like - what the family will have for tea (healthy options), what clothes they would like to wear and more

  • have family play-time ... and get into character

  • organise a picnic with a packed lunch and encourage your child to open it and eat the food by themselves

  • encourage your child to do simple things for themselves, like blowing their own nose, pulling on their own socks and many other things

  • encourage your child to help with simple household tasks like setting the table, watering plants, helping to unpack groceries, helping siblings and various others.