School Readiness – Is your child is ready for school ?

Starting school can be daunting (for both child and parent!) at the best of times. Of course, as parents, you want to set your child up for success and independence as they start their educational journey. But how can you tell if your child is ready for school?

Aimee York, Occupational Therapist explains that there are several domains you can look at when assessing your child’s school readiness. Read over the following generic dot points to see if your child is ready for school. (Please note this list is not exhaustive, nor definitive)

Independence

•  Self-care independently e.g. toileting and blowing own nose
• Dressing independently including putting on and taking off school shoes
• Opening and closing own lunch boxes and food packaging and containers
• Able to take care of personal belongings and tidy up
• Take ownership of personal tasks (e.g. packing, unpacking bag)

Social Skills

• Share toys and belongings
• Make independent choices, when appropriate
• Able to take turns
• Engage in imaginative and creative play
• Use manners

Listening and Language

• Demonstrate active listening at group times and during1:1 conversation (eye contact, focused)
• Follow simple instructions adequately
• Retell a story in sequence
• Use speech that is clearly understood

Cognitive Skills

• Build age appropriate puzzles
• Know main body parts, main colours and basic 2D shapes
• Know their name and surname
• Able to draw a simple person
• Able to copy simple shapes e.g. horizontal line, vertical line, circle

Fine Motor Skills

• Demonstrate hand dominance
• Hold pencil with tripod grip and good control
• Able to use scissors
• Able to thread beads
• Write own name using a capital letter to start and the rest in lower case letters

Gross Motor Skills

• Able to sit cross-legged on the carpet
• Climb playground apparatus
• Stand and walk on tiptoes
• Hop
• Stand on one foot for 1-5 seconds
• Catch a ball with two hands
• Kick a ball

If your child is struggling in a few of these areas, an Occupational Therapist can help your child achieve these skills. Contact KinderCloud today to find out more. Call us on 0409 279 728 or email info@kindercloud.com.au for more information.