What Does It Mean To Be Ready for School?

What Does It Mean To Be Ready for School?


There is no one quality or skill that children need to do
well in school, but a combination of things contributes to
success. These include good health and physical wellbeing,
social and emotional maturity, language skills, an ability to
solve problems and think creatively, and general knowledge
about the world.

As you go about helping your child develop in each of
these areas, remember

* Children develop at different rates, and

* Most children are stronger in some areas than in others.

Remember, too, that being ready for school depends partly
on what the school expects. One school may think it's very
important for children to sit quietly and know the alphabet.
Another may believe it's more important for children to get
along well with others.

Children who match the school's expectations may be
considered better prepared. You may want to visit your child's
school to learn what the principal and teachers expect and
discuss any areas of disagreement.

While schools may have different priorities, most
educators agree that the following areas are important for
success.


Good Health and Physical Well-Being


Young children need nutritious food, enough sleep, safe
places to play, and regular medical care. These things help
children get a good start in life and lessen the chances that
they will later have serious health problems or trouble
learning.



Good health for children begins before birth with good
prenatal care. Visit a doctor or medical clinic throughout your
pregnancy. In addition, eat nourishing foods, avoid alcohol,
tobacco, and other harmful drugs, and get plenty of rest.

Pregnant women who don't take good care of themselves
increase their chances of giving birth to children who

* Are low in birth weight, making them more likely to have
lifelong health and learning problems;

* Develop asthma;

* Are mentally retarded;

* Develop speech and language problems;

* Have short attention spans; or

* Become hyperactive.

If your child already has some of these problems, it is a
good idea to consult your doctor, your school district, or
community agencies as soon as possible. Many communities have
free or inexpensive services to help you and your child.

Good health for children continues after birth with a
balanced diet. School-aged children can concentrate better in
class if they eat nutritionally balanced meals. These should
include breads, cereals, and other grain products; fruits;
vegetables; meat, poultry, fish and alternatives (such as eggs
and dried beans and peas); and milk, cheese, and yogurt. Avoid
too many fats and sweets.

Children aged 2-5 generally can eat the same foods as
adults but in smaller portions. Your child's doctor or clinic
can provide advice on feeding babies and toddlers under the age
of 2.

Federal, state, and local aid is available for parents who
need food in order to make sure their children get a balanced
diet. The federal nutrition program, called the Special
Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children
(WIC), distributes food to more than 5.4 million low-income
women and their children through about 8,200 service centers
across the country. Food stamps also are available for many
families with children. For information and to find out if you
are eligible, contact your local or state health department.

Preschoolers require regular medical and dental checkups
and immunizations. It's important to find a doctor or a clinic
where children can receive routine health care as well as
special treatment if they are sick or injured.

Children need immunizations beginning around the age of 2
months to prevent nine diseases: measles, mumps, German measles
(rubella), diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib
(Haemophilus influenzae type b), polio, and tuberculosis. These
diseases can have serious effects on physical and mental
development. Regular dental checkups should begin at the latest
by the age of 3.

Preschoolers need opportunities to exercise and develop
physical coordination. To learn to control large muscles,
children need to throw balls, run, jump, climb, and dance to
music. To learn to control small muscles, particularly in the
hands and fingers, they need to color with crayons, put
together puzzles, use blunt-tipped scissors, and zip jackets.
In kindergarten, they will build upon these skills.



Parents of youngsters with disabilities should see a
doctor as soon as a problem is suspected. Early intervention
can help these children develop to their full potential.


Social and Emotional Preparation


Young children are often very excited about entering
school. But when they do, they can face an environment that's
different from what they are used to at home or even in
preschool. In kindergarten, they will need to work well in
large groups and get along with new adults and other children.
They will have to share the teacher's attention with other
youngsters. The classroom routines may also be different.

Most 5-year-olds do not start school with good social
skills or much emotional maturity. These take time and practice
to learn. However, children improve their chances for success
in kindergarten if they have had opportunities to begin
developing these qualities:

Confidence. Children must learn to feel good about
themselves and believe they can succeed. Confident children are
more willing to attempt new tasks--and try again if they don't
succeed the first time.

Independence. Children need to learn to do things for
themselves.

Motivation. Children must want to learn.

Curiosity. Children are naturally curious and must remain
so in order to get the most out of learning opportunities.

Persistence. Children must learn to finish what they
start.

Cooperation. Children must be able to get along with
others and learn to share and take turns.

Self-control. Preschoolers must understand that some
behaviors, such as hitting and biting, are inappropriate. They
need to learn that there are good and bad ways to express
anger.

Empathy. Children must learn to have an interest in others
and understand how others feel.

Parents, even more than child care centers and good
schools, help children develop these skills. Here are some ways
you can help your child acquire these positive qualities:

Youngsters must believe that, no matter what, someone will
look out for them. Show that you care about your children. They
thrive when they have parents or other caregivers who are
loving and dependable. Small children need attention,
encouragement, hugs, and plenty of lap time. Children who feel
loved are more likely to be confident.

Set a good example. Children imitate what they see others
do and what they hear others say. When parents exercise and eat
nourishing food, children are more likely to do so. When
parents treat others with respect, their children probably
will, too. If parents share things, their children will learn
to be thoughtful of others' feelings.

Have a positive attitude toward learning and toward
school. Children come into this world with a powerful need to
discover and to explore. Parents need to encourage this
curiosity if children are to keep it. Enthusiasm for what
children do ("You've drawn a great picture!") helps to make
them proud of their achievements.



Children also become excited about school when their
parents show excitement. As your child approaches kindergarten,
talk to him about school. Talk about the exciting activities in
kindergarten, such as going on field trips and making fun art
projects. Be enthusiastic as you describe what he will learn in
school--how to read and measure and weigh things, for example.

Provide opportunities for repetition. It takes practice to
crawl, pronounce new words, or drink from a cup. Children don't
get bored when they repeat things. Instead, repeating things
until they are learned helps youngsters build the confidence
needed to try something new.

Use appropriate discipline. All children need to have
limits set for them. Children whose parents give firm but
loving discipline are generally more skilled socially and do
better in school than children whose parents set too few or too
many limits. Here are some tips.

* Direct children's activities, but don't make unnecessary
restrictions or try to dominate.

* Offer reasons when asking your child to do something (For
example, say, "Please move the toy truck off the stairs so
no one falls over it"--not, "Do it because I said so.").

* Listen to your children to find out how they feel and
whether they need any special support.

* Show love and respect when you are angry. Criticize a
child's behavior but not the child (For example, say, "I
love you, but it is not okay for you to draw pictures on
the walls. I get angry when you do that.").

* Help your children make choices and work out problems (You
might ask your 4-year-old, "What can we do to keep Kevin
from knocking over your blocks?").



* Be positive and encouraging. Praise your child for a job
well done. Smiles and encouragement go much further to
shape good behavior than harsh punishment.

Let children do many things by themselves. Young children
need to be closely watched. But they learn to be independent
and to develop confidence by doing tasks such as dressing
themselves and putting their toys away. It's also important to
let them make choices, rather than deciding everything for
them. Remember to give them a choice only when there really is
one.

Encourage your children to play with other children and be
with adults who are not family members. Preschoolers need these
social opportunities to learn to see the point of view of
others. Young children are more likely to get along with
teachers and classmates if they already have had experiences
with different adults and children.


Language and General Knowledge


Kindergarteners participate in many activities that
require them to use language and to solve problems. Children
who can't or don't communicate easily may have problems in
school. There are many things you can do to help children learn
to communicate, solve problems, and develop an understanding of
the world. You can

Give your child opportunities to play. Play is how
children learn. It is the natural way for them to explore, to
become creative, and to develop academic and social skills.
Play helps them learn to solve problems--for example, a wagon
tips over, and children must figure out how to get it upright
again. Children learn about geometry, shapes, and balance when
they stack up blocks. Playing with others helps children learn
how to negotiate.



Talk to your children, beginning at birth. Babies need to
hear your voice. A television or the radio can't take the place
of your voice because it doesn't respond to coos and babbles.
The more you talk to your baby, the more he will have to talk
about as he gets older. Talking with children broadens their
understanding of language and of the world.

Everyday activities, such as eating dinner or taking a
bath, provide opportunities to talk, sometimes in detail, about
what's happening and respond to your child. "First let's stick
the plug in the drain. Now we'll turn on the water. I see you
want to put your rubber duck in the bathtub. That's a good
idea. Look, it's yellow, just like the rubber duck on 'Sesame
Street.'"

Listen to your children. Children have their own special
thoughts and feelings, joys and sorrows, hopes and fears. As
their language skills develop, encourage them to talk.
Listening is the best way to learn what's on their minds and to
discover what they know and don't know, and how they think and
learn. It also shows children that their feelings and ideas are
valuable.

Answer questions and ask questions, particularly ones that
require more than a "yes" or "no" response. While walking in a
park, for example, most 2- and 3-year-olds will stop to pick up
leaves. You might point out how the leaves are the same, and
how they are different. With older children you might ask,
"What else grows on trees?"

Questions can help children learn to compare and classify
things. Answer your children's questions thoughtfully and,
whenever possible, encourage them to answer their own
questions. If you don't know the answer to a question, say so.
Then together with your child try to find the answer.



Read aloud to your children every day. Reading can begin
with babies and continue throughout the preschool years. Even
though they don't understand the story or the poem, reading
together gives children a chance to learn about language, enjoy
the sound of your voice, and be close to you. You don't have to
be an excellent reader for your child to enjoy this time
together. You may also want to take your child to a local
library that offers special story hours.

Make reading materials available. Children develop an
interest in language and in reading much sooner if they have
books and other reading materials around their homes.

Monitor television viewing. Next to parents, television
may be our children's most influential teacher. Good television
can introduce children to new worlds and promote learning, but
poor or too much TV can be harmful.

Be realistic about your children's abilities and
interests. Children usually do best in school when parents
estimate their abilities correctly. Parents must set high
standards and encourage their preschoolers to try new things.
Children who aren't challenged become bored. But ones who are
pushed along too quickly, or are asked to do things that don't
interest them, can become frustrated and unhappy.

Try to keep your children from being labeled. Labels such
as "dumb" or "stupid" have a powerful effect on a child's
confidence and school performance. Remember to praise your
child for a job well done.



Provide opportunities to do and see things. The more
varied the experiences that children have, the more they learn
about the world. No matter where you live, your community can
provide new experiences. Go for walks in your neighborhood, or
go places on the bus. Visit museums, libraries, zoos, and other
community resources.

If you live in the city, spend a day in the country (or if
you live in the country, spend a day in the city). Let your
children hear and make music, dance, and paint. Let them
participate in activities that help to develop their
imaginations and let them express their ideas and feelings. The
following activities can provide your children with these
opportunities.