Understanding and Supporting School Readiness 

Understanding and Supporting School Readiness

By Dr Kaya & Danielle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transitioning to formal schooling is a significant developmental milestone for both children and their families. During this period, children experience rapid growth as they adjust socially, behaviourally, emotionally, and cognitively to structured learning environments. At the same time, parents learn how to support their children through this journey. The concept of “school readiness” refers to a child’s ability to adapt and thrive in a school setting. This readiness encompasses a range of cognitive, behavioural, social, and emotional skills essential for success in the school environment. 

Many parents experience anxiety during this transition, particularly when determining if their child is “school ready.” This blog will discuss key developmental milestones, areas of concern, and how parents can help prepare their child for school. 

Milestones for 4-5 Year Olds 

Most educational skills can be developed once a child settles into the school environment. However, there are key milestones that indicate a child is ready to engage in learning. Consideration of these milestones for typically developing children may help to decide whether your child is ready to start school or whether your child may benefit from an additional year of kindy especially if your child is on the younger end for starting school e.g., turning 5 near the middle of the year. 

• Receiving Messages: 

• • Follows 2-3 step instructions. 

• • Understands more words than they can actively use. 

• • Starts understanding figures of speech (e.g., “You’re pulling my leg”). 

• Giving Messages: 

• • Speech is clear enough that a stranger can understand most of it, though some sound errors may remain. 

• • Uses increasingly complex vocabulary and language, connecting words like “so,” describing emotions like “confused,” and explaining processes (“I can’t remember”). 

• • Shows improved turn-taking in conversations. 

• Cognitive Milestones: 

• • Can count 10 or more objects and name at least four colours. 

• • Recognises most letters of the alphabet and may begin writing some letters and numbers. 

• • Attempts to write their name and recognizes it in print. 

• • Begins drawing people with more detailed body parts. 

• • Has complete daytime control of toileting. 

• Motor Milestones: 

• • Can holp a pencil with a tripod grip. 

• • Can dress and undress independently (but not expected to tie shoelaces). 

• • Can open food container, lunches boxes and feed self independently. 

• Social-Emotional Milestones: 

• • Shows awareness of fairness and good/bad behaviour. 

• • Develops friendships and becomes more attuned to others’ feelings. 

• • Enjoys imaginative play and games with simple rules. 

• • Can sit for longer periods to focus on more challenging tasks. 

 

Concerns to Watch for at Any Age

If you notice any of the following, at any point, it’s important to reach out to your healthcare team: 

• Significant loss of skills
  • e.g., could speak in sentences, now using one-to-two- word phrases; could walk and run easily, now moves hesitantly movement. 

• Limited response to sounds or visual stimuli. 

• Poor interactions with adults or children. 

• Limited eye contact. 

• Differences in strength or movement between the sides of the body. 

• Marked low or high muscle tone affecting motor skills. 

• Any other concerns that strongly worry you as a parent 

However, some age specific milestone concerns that may indicate a need to check in with your healthcare team are: 

4 years old: 
Social Emotional: Child is unwilling or unable to play cooperatively.
Communication: Childs speech is difficult to understand, child is unable to follow directions with two steps.
Cognition, Fine Motor and Self-Care: Child is not toilet trained by day, child is not able to draw lines and circles.
Gross Motor: Child is unable to walk, run, climb, jump and use stairs confidently, child is not able to catch, throw or kick a ball. 

5 years old:
Social Emotional: Childs play is different from their peers
Communication: Childs has difficulty telling parents what is wrong, child is not able to answer questions in a simple conversations (e.g. What is your name?).
Cognition, Fine Motor and Self-Care: Concerns raised by teacher about school readiness, child is not able to independently complete everyday routines such as feeding and dressing, child is not able to draw simple pictures (e.g. Stick person) 
Gross Motor: Child is unable to walk, run, climb, jump and use stairs confidently, child cannot hop five time son one leg and stand on one leg for more than 5 seconds.  

Children with diagnosed developmental differences 

It is important to note that some children will have known development differences which impact the attainment of milestones mentioned above e.g., cerebral palsy, Autism, global developmental delay. With the right support, all children can transition successfully to school. If your child has been receiving early intervention support and/or has known differences in their developmental profile it is recommended to reach out to your child’s intended school early so that individual plans for supporting transition and engagement in school can be made with their relevant inclusion support team. With tailored environment modifications, development of sense of safety and connection all school children can thrive.  

How to Support School Readiness 

There are many things that parents and families can do to help with the transition to school.  

• Speak Positively About School:
  Children gauge the safety of activities from their parents. If you speak negatively about your school experiences, your child may develop negative views about schooling. Positive attitudes toward school lead to smoother transitions and better emotional outcomes. 

• Get Involved with the School:
  Attend open days, meet the teachers, and participate in transition programs. Parental involvement in the school setting helps create a supportive and successful transition. 

• Practice Routines:
  Before school starts, practice packing bags, putting on uniforms, and setting routines. Create a space for school belongings to keep everything organized. 

• Practice Social Skills:
  Encourage turn-taking, sharing, and problem-solving. Provide your child with strategies for managing stress and sharing adults’ attention, like offering alternative activities while you step away. For example: “I am just making a phone call, would you like to do some colouring or Lego? I will check in after this call”  

Further home-based activities to support development and promote school readiness across the early years 

• Reflections and Narratives:
  Statements like, “You felt frustrated when Sam took the pen you were using,” help build emotional literacy and lay the foundation for emotional regulation. 

• Reading:
  Reading supports speech, language, and vocabulary development. It also strengthens parent-child connections and early phonemic awareness, which is crucial for reading comprehension. 

• Sensory Play:
  Using sensory items from around the house helps develop fine motor skills and encourages exploration. It also promotes self-confidence as children express their preferences. 

• Creative Play:
  Creative play supports cognitive development, imagination, and fine motor skills while promoting joint attention and focus. 

As with any new skill and learning journey it is important to meet your children with compassion and patience, this is all entirely new for them! Remember to provide examples of what children can do in scenarios, explore alternative outcomes together, celebrate wins and most importantly talk about the feelings involved in the transition process. Don’t forget to extend that compassion and patience to yourself as a parent, you are also learning!  

Final Thoughts 

Starting formal schooling is a major milestone, often accompanied by anxiety for both parents and children. By modelling a positive attitude, getting involved with the school, and practicing routines and social skills, you can help ease your child’s transition. Remember, it takes a village—reach out to your support network, including teachers, GPs, and allied health professionals, if you have any concerns about your child’s school readiness or need to develop a more tailored plan for their transition to school. 

If you live in Brisbane or are happy with using Telehealth, we are here to support you. Get in touch today.