Play is the Answer to Kindergarten Readiness

The pressure of “school readiness” for family child care providers is real!  As the children in your care inch closer and closer to starting school, it can feel daunting as parents and society push for children to “get ready” faster and sooner. But what does readiness mean when we focus on developmentally appropriate practice and the young children in our care?

The word, “readiness” has been so misunderstood and caused unnecessary pressure and stress for parents, teachers, and children.  The definition of readiness is the state of being fully prepared.  How can we expect children to be fully prepared for Kindergarten when they have no idea what to expect when they enter the door…new school, new environment, new teacher, new friends.  Can you imagine how scary that must feel for a 5-year-old?  How can we help them get started on the right foot?  Did you know that focusing on handwriting, reciting the alphabet, counting to 100 or writing their name is not what children need to start Kindergarten?  If you don’t believe me…ask a Kindergarten teacher.

What will help children navigate through this new world of Kindergarten?  Honestly…it’s a pretty simple answer.  The goal should be about the child being competent, confident, and independent when they walk into the classroom and not focused on academics.  These are social emotional skills that cannot be taught at table time or by following a cookie cutter curriculum. They are skills that develop through independent thinking, risk taking, problem solving, making mistakes, collaborating with others, and making decisions.  We need to understand that each child walks into our program with different life experiences, family dynamics and needs which means each child has different expectations.  Those expectations can all be met through child-led play and will build a solid foundation that will help children become lifelong learners.  

When children are competent, confident, and independent, learning will come along organically.  Many times, children will walk into Kindergarten able to write their name, cut with scissors or know the letters in their name.  But that should not be the expectation. We want children to feel comfortable and eager to learn not forced to do so because of a “Kindergarten Readiness” list.

What do I believe a child “ready” for Kindergarten looks like walking into the classroom? 

o   Happy and Excited

o   Communicating with classmates and teachers

o   Expressing their feelings and asking questions

o   Able to handle their BIG emotions and self-regulate

o   Taking care of the personal needs

o   Taking turns and playing with other children

o   Transitioning from one activity to another

o   Following simple instructions

o   Ability to use simple tools in the classroom

o   Eager to learn and try new things

As family child care providers we have the opportunity to create enriching and supportive learning environments where children can learn these important skills through play! We cannot stand by replacing what is in the best interest of children with more meaningless worksheets, repetitive calendar time and rote learning to just appease people’s idea of readiness.  You are with these children for 8+ hours a day building meaningful relationships with each child you care for.  You have taken countless trainings, read articles and listen to podcasts. You are the expert when it comes to the children in your care, and you know what they need to succeed.  You need to be the voice for the children in your care.

We need to get back to the idea that Kindergarten needs to be ready for ALL children, where they are met with open arms and the only requirement is their birthdate. Our goal as family child care providers should be to empower children with the skills they will need to be independent and successful not and what a “Kindergarten readiness checklist” deems necessary.  We need to let them be little, build on meaningful learning and when they are 5 and 6, then they will be ready and eager for Kindergarten.