10/12/2025
All things we love to work on at Kindy!
A mum recently told me: "My daughter knows all her letters, she can count to 50, she's going to be great at Prep!"
I loved her excitement. That confidence and joy in her child's abilities is beautiful. And yes, those are wonderful skills.
But here's something that surprised me when I started working with Prep children, and it might surprise you too. The children who flourish in Prep aren't always the ones who knew the most letters or numbers. They're the ones whose bodies and emotions are ready to learn.
I've watched children who know their alphabet struggle in Prep because sitting still to write feels physically uncomfortable. I've seen kids who can count to 100 but find it overwhelming to manage the social and emotional demands of a classroom. And I've watched children with fewer academic skills ahead of time absolutely thrive because they could focus, regulate their feelings, and move through their day with confidence.
Here's the wonderful news. The skills that truly set children up for success (body control, emotional regulation, focus, coordination). These can all be developed, and the Prep year is the perfect time to build them.
When children have good core strength, writing doesn't exhaust them. When their reflexes are integrated, reading from left to right across a page feels natural. When they can regulate their emotions, they can handle the ups and downs of learning something new. These foundations make everything else easier.
Try this today to help your little one with their school readiness skills (if they need extra support, we're here to help).
Put on some music and play crossover dancing with your child. Touch your left hand to your right knee, then right hand to left knee, march around the room doing these movements. Be silly, laugh together, make it a game.
These cross-body movements help the left and right sides of the brain learn to work as a team, which is exactly what your child needs for reading, writing, and managing their emotions.
And the best part is that it doesn't feel like work. It feels like play. Five minutes of this kind of fun and silly movement can help your child's brain develop the connections that make school easier.
If you'd like to learn more reach out. Or we have our wonderful Wednesday Prep program starting next year. Come join us.
