There is no single quality or skill that enables children to perform well in school. Rather, it's a combination of qualities and skills that contributes to their academic success. Here's how parents can help their children be ready for school:

Good health and physical well-being. Young children need nutritious food, enough sleep, safe places to play, and regular medical care. These things help them get a good start in life and lessen the chances that they will later have serious health problems or trouble learning.

Preschoolers need opportunities to exercise and develop physical coordination. To learn to control large muscles, they need to throw balls, run, jump, climb, and dance to music. To learn to control small muscles, particularly in the hands and fingers, they need to colour with crayons, put together puzzles, use blunt-tipped scissors, and zip jackets. In kindergarten, they will build upon these skills.

Children can concentrate better in class if they eat balanced meals. These should include breads, cereals, and other grain products, fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish and alternatives (such as eggs and dried beans and peas) and milk, cheese, and yoghurt. Avoid too many fats and sweets.

Social and emotional preparation. In kindergarten, children will need to work well in large groups and get along with new adults and other children. They will have to share the teacher's attention with other youngsters.

Most children do not start school with good social skills or much emotional maturity. These take time and practice to learn. However, children improve their chances for success in kindergarten if they have had opportunities to begin developing these qualities:

Confidence: Children must learn to feel good about themselves and believe they can succeed. Confident children are more willing to attempt new tasks and try them again if they don't succeed the first time.

Independence: Children need to learn to do things for themselves.

Motivation: Children must want to learn.

Curiosity: Children are naturally curious and must remain so in order to get the most out of learning opportunities.

Persistence: Children must learn to finish what they start.

Cooperation: Children must be able to get along with others and learn to share and take turns.

Self-control: Children must understand that some behaviours, such as hitting and biting, are inappropriate. They need to learn that there are good and bad ways to express anger.

Empathy: Children must learn to have an interest in others and understand how others feel.

Parents are their children's most important teachers in helping them develop these skills. Here are some ways you can help:

Youngsters must believe that, no matter what, someone will look out for them. They thrive when they have parents who are loving and dependable. Small children need attention, encouragement, hugs, and plenty of lap time. Children who feel loved are more likely to be confident.

Set a good example - children imitate. When parents exercise and eat nourishing food, children are more likely to do so. When parents treat others with respect, their children probably will, too. If parents share things, their children will learn to be thoughtful of others' feelings.

Have a positive attitude toward learning and toward school. Children come into this world with a powerful need to discover and to explore. Parents need to encourage this curiosity if children are to keep it. Enthusiasm for what children do ("You've drawn a really good picture!") helps to make them proud of their achievements.

Children also become excited about school when their parents show excitement. As your child approaches kindergarten, talk to him about school, about the exciting activities such as going on outings and doing art projects. Be enthusiastic as you describe what he will learn in school.

Provide opportunities for repetition. It takes practice to crawl, pronounce new words, or drink from a cup. Children don't get bored when they repeat things. Instead, repeating things until they are learned helps youngsters build the confidence needed to try something new.

Use appropriate discipline. All children need to have limits set for them. Children whose parents give firm but loving discipline are generally more skilled socially and do better in school than children whose parents set too few or too many limits. For example, direct children's activities but don't make unnecessary restrictions or try to dominate; offer reasons when asking your child to do something; criticise a child's behaviour but not the child.

Be positive and encouraging. Praise your child for a job well done. Smiles and encouragement go much further to shape good behaviour than harsh punishment.

Let children do many things by themselves. Young children need to be closely watched. But they learn to be independent and to develop confidence by doing tasks such as dressing themselves and putting their toys away. It's also important to let them make choices, rather than deciding everything for them.

Encourage your children to play with other children and be with adults who are not family members. Preschoolers need these social opportunities to learn to see the point of view of others. Young children are more likely to get along with teachers and classmates if they already have had experiences with different adults and children.

Language and general knowledge. Kindergarteners participate in many activities that require them to use language and to solve problems. Children who can't or don't communicate easily may have problems in school.

Give your child opportunities to play. Play is how children learn. It is the natural way for them to explore, to become creative, and to develop academic and social skills. Play helps them learn to solve problems.

Talk to your children, beginning at birth. Babies need to hear your voice. The more you talk to your baby, the more he will have to talk about as he gets older. And talking with children broadens their understanding of language and of the world. Everyday activities, such as eating dinner or taking a bath, provide opportunities to talk, sometimes in detail, about what's happening.

Listen to your children. Children have their own special thoughts and feelings, joys and sorrows, hopes and fears. As their language skills develop, encourage them to talk. Listening is the best way to learn what's on their minds and to discover what they know and don't know, and how they think and learn. It also shows children that their feelings and ideas are valuable.

Answer your children's questions thoughtfully and, whenever possible, encourage them to answer their own questions. If you don't know the answer to a question, say so. Then try to find the answer together.

Read aloud to your children every day. Reading can begin with babies and continue throughout the preschool years. Even though they don't understand the story or the poem, reading together gives children a chance to learn about language, enjoy the sound of your voice, and be close to you.

Make reading materials available. Children develop an interest in language and in reading much sooner if they have books and other reading materials around their homes.

Monitor television viewing. Next to parents, television may be our children's most influential teacher. Good television can introduce children to new worlds and promote learning, but poor or too much TV can be harmful.

Be realistic about your children's abilities and interests. Children usually do best in school when parents estimate their abilities correctly. Parents must set high standards and encourage their preschoolers to try new things.

Children who aren't challenged become bored. But ones who are pushed along too quickly, or are asked to do things that don't interest them, can become frustrated and unhappy.

Try to keep your children from being labelled. Labels such as "stupid" have a powerful effect on a child's confidence and school performance. Remember to praise your child for a job well done.

Provide opportunities to do and see things. The more varied the experiences that children have, the more they learn about the world. No matter where you live, your area can provide new experiences. Go for walks in your town, or visit museums, libraries, heritage sites. Let your children hear and make music, dance, and paint. Let them participate in activities that help to develop their imagination and let them express their ideas and feelings.

The above has been excerpted from a US Department of Education booklet which can be seen in full online at:

http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/GetReadyForSchool

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