Attending school for the first time can be one of the most stressful milestones in a child’s life. As parents, we all want to help lessen the strain and pressure put on our children as much as possible, and one way to do is by assessing their school readiness before they are sent to childcare centres in Australia.
School readiness refers to the different emotional, cognitive and behavioural skills necessary for a child to function successfully in school. Ensuring that a child has all the skills he needs in order to learn and work properly can make the transition from home to a social environment easier. Creative Childcare shares the factors you should consider when assessing your child’s school readiness:
Social, Language and Cognitive Skills
It’s important for your child to be able to get along well with other children without your supervision. They should be able to demonstrate basic manners and play independently and in groups. In order to thrive in a school setting, children must be able to talk and listen to adults as well as other children. They should be able to speak clearly and communicate their needs well. Having basic thinking skills and number sense, as well as the ability to identify letters and sounds can help them significantly in school.
Emotional Maturity
Helping your child manage their emotions and cope with change is an important part of child care in Australia, and are crucial for school readiness. Aside from that, your child should be able able to focus on tasks and follow directions from their teachers. Familiarise them with the new school environment and its rules to help them thrive in school.
Health and Coordination
Children must have the basic health and physical coordination required to participate in school activities. They must be able to run, jump, play ball and climb. They should also have the necessary fine motor skills such as being able to turn the pages of a book or being able to grip a pencil.
Independence
As much as we’d like to be there for them in school, guiding them and helping them whenever we can, children need to face this new chapter in their lives alone. Which is why they need the basic skills to help manage their needs without requiring adult supervision. These include unwrapping their lunches, managing their belongings and going to the toilet.
If you are still unsure of whether your child is ready to start school or not, you can talk to Creative Childcare in Australia. As educators, we want to help children grow at a pace that they are comfortable with, which includes assessing their development and readiness for school. Schedule a consultation today.