How Do Teachers' Judge Kindergarten Readiness

What You Need To Know

There are checklists and bullet points galore to see if your child is ready for kindergarten, but what do the majority of teachers have to say on the subject. Teachers completing a survey were asked how important each of 15 stated qualities were for a child entering kindergarten.

The top three qualities public school kindergarten teachers consider essential for school readiness are that a child be physically healthy, rested and well-nourished; be able to communicate needs, wants, and thoughts verbally; and be enthusiastic and curious in approaching new activities . Here’s a breakdown of how the teachers voted.

• 96% - Being healthy and nourished was essential.
• 84% - Communication was essential.
• 76% - Enthusiasm and curiosity was essential.
• 60% - Following directions was essential.
• 60% - Not being disruptive in class was essential.
• 58% - Being sensitive to others feelings was essential.
• 56% - Being able to take turns was essential.
• 42% - Knowing English was essential.

What is surprisingly least important for teachers is good problem-solving skills, ability to identify colors and shapes, ability to use tools such as pencils and markers and  knowledge of the alphabet or ability to count to 20.

How You Can Help

Considering the percentages above, a parent could focus on the higher scoring issues in helping prepare your child for kindergarten. Here are some actions you can take to help improve what teachers voted as their top three areas essential for kindergarten readiness.

Health: Learn about the food groups and have your child help you plan healthy meals. For example: We need a fruit tonight with dinner, should it be bananas, apples or strawberries? Or how about a fruit salad?

Communication: Here’s a fun activity to try at home. Try having your child hide a stuffed animal in the house for you to find. They can only give you three clear sentence clues on where and how to find their sock monkey. It will force them to think clearly and use their words efficiently.

Enthusiasm: Show excitement when you discover something new and a child will develop the same love for learning. For example: “Come quick, there is beautiful bird in the tree outside. I think he is building a nest.”

Following some of these suggestions will not only improve your child’s success in kindergarten, it also comes with the added bonus of bonding.