What does it take to be “ready” for school?
If you think counting to 20 or knowing the ABCs are the most important skills for school readiness, you are in for a surprise.
According to surveys taken over the last decade, the vast majority of kindergarten teachers reported that strong social and emotional skills - not academic skills - are the most important factors in school readiness. In other words, kindergarten teachers want children who are excited to be in school, interested in learning, and engaged in the learning process.
There are many names given to these skills and you’ve probably heard some of them, including Executive Function and Social Intelligence. What are these skills and how can children obtain them? Ellen Galinsky, author of “Mind in the Making,” breaks them down into the seven skills.
Focus and Self Control – Paying attention and remembering rules will help your child manage to keep on task in a world full of distractions. Parents can play games like “Simon Says.” As your child learns, create more difficult challenges, like asking them to do the opposite of what you are doing – for example if you clap once, they clap twice, if you clap twice, they clap once.
Perspective – Figuring out what others think and feel can help your child avoid conflicts. As you encounter situations in your daily routine or in books that you are reading together, ask your child questions like, “Why do you think that person acted a certain way?” “How do you think he or she was feeling?”
Communication – The ability to express oneself and listen to others are vital skills. By exposing your children to words and their context, they will have the vocabulary to say what they want to say. Talk to your child, ask questions, have conversations about what you are doing and read books together.
Making Connections – How do things relate to each other? It’s a question at the heart of learning. Cut out pictures from a magazine and ask you child to sort them into piles of people, places and things. Then change the rules and ask them to sort the pictures by color.
Taking on Challenges – Successful learners facing tough problems think, “How can I solve this?” rather than giving up. Many parents are quick to say “you’re so smart” when a child solves a problem. Instead, praise your child for trying and working hard. This will reinforce the effort.
Critical Thinking –Any search for answers starts with questions. Promote your child’s curiosity by inspiring them to test their assumptions. What is inside the rock he or she found outside? Break it and find out!
Self-Directed Engaged Learning – Learning is life-long if we are interested and engaged in the world around us. Talk about your child’s interests, and help them plan what they will do next, whether it is later today or when they grow up.
Interestingly, these are the very skills that employers say they look are looking for. They want job candidates with transferable skills that will make them useful in a wide range of jobs, and capable of adapting when necessary. As you prepare your child for school, you will also be preparing them for life.
Source: Ellen Galinsky http://mindinthemaking.org/articles/tips_for_parents/
The Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance is a statewide advocacy organization working to ensure that all children are healthy, safe and ready for lifelong success. Visit us at earlychildhoodalliance.com, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ctearlychildhoodalliance or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cteca. The Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance is supported by the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, the Fairfield County Community Foundation and our member organizations.
