School readiness is about the whole child and does not just start the year before school. It’s a journey from birth and encompasses social-emotional development, self-help skills, language, physical and cognitive development.
At Golden Seeds, we believe in this holistic preparedness for a child to successfully transition into school life. We provide opportunities for holistic learning in all avenues of our daily routines and incorporate several programs to encourage early literacy and numeracy development through play-based learning.
How Golden Seeds Incorporate Essential School Readiness Skills Into our Curriculums
Social-Emotional Development
Board games, puzzles, or memory games require children to focus, take turns, and plan their moves ahead of time. These types of play help children practice impulse control, patience, and persistence through taking turns, sharing, and negotiating with others. These social interactions help them manage emotions, build friendships, and work collaboratively, effectively building on their abilities to manage frustration, celebrate achievements, and resolve conflicts. All of which contribute to a positive school experience.
How to support them: Encourage independence by letting them make small choices (e.g., what to wear or which book to read). Role-play social situations to practice sharing and patience.
Literacy & Numeracy Development
Through games like building with blocks, children develop their understanding of math concepts, such as spatial awareness, counting, and geometry. These activities also encourage problem-solving and critical thinking, laying the foundation for academic learning and developing skills, such as attention, memory, and the ability to follow instructions.
Through storytelling and role-playing, children begin to understand the structure of a story—beginning, middle, and end. Teachers can also encourage children to create simple written scripts or drawings before performing the puppet shows.
This activity lays the groundwork for literacy by introducing the concepts of narrative structure, written expression, and storytelling, all of which are fundamental skills for reading and writing in school.
How to support them: Use everyday moments to introduce counting (e.g., setting the table), and encourage drawing, tracing, or scribbling to develop pre-writing skills.
- Language and Communication Skills
Dramatic play experiences allow children to use and practice new vocabulary. They can engage in conversations, tell stories, and express ideas, which improves their ability to communicate effectively. Children also learn to articulate their thoughts clearly, follow directions, and participate in group discussions—skills that are used daily in school settings.
How to support them: Read together every day, ask open-ended questions, and practice active listening by repeating back what they say.
Creativity and Imagination
Engaging in arts and crafts, music, or dramatic play allows children to explore different ways of expressing themselves. Through imaginative play, children create scenarios and characters that help them think outside the box. In school, children who engage in imaginative play are more likely to approach academic challenges with curiosity and innovative thinking.
How to support them: Ask your child to explore their imagination by incorporating “I wonder…” into your sentences. Allow them time and space to truly wonder.
Motor Skills Development
Physical play like running, jumping, and climbing helps children develop gross motor skills (e.g., balancing, throwing, crossing the mid-section). While fine motor skills (e.g, drawing, moulding & cutting) are essential for tasks like holding a pencil, using scissors, and other classroom activities. Both developmental area’s enhance hand-eye coordination and overall physical health.
How to support them: Encourage risky play when out at the park, jumping from rock to rock or climbing the highest tree!
Encourage the use of clay or play dough at home to build the tiny muscles in their hands that will later be used for writing.
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