ABC's and 123's:

Kindergarten readiness is a crucial bridge between early childhood and formal schooling. It’s a common misconception that a child only needs to know their colors and numbers to be ready for school. The reality is that kindergarten – and what happens before a child gets to kindergarten — sets the stage for their future learning. By preparing a child for kindergarten socially, emotionally, and cognitively, parents can support their educational success in the future.  

What are a few key skills that children need to start kindergarten? 

How is Kindergarten Readiness Measured in Ohio? 
In Ohio, kindergarten readiness is assessed using the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Revised (KRA-R). This comprehensive tool evaluates four key areas: Social Foundations (including social-emotional development and approaches toward learning), Mathematics, Language and Literacy, and Physical Well-Being and Motor Development.  
SOURCE: Ohio Department of Education & Workforce

Why do these skills matter?

These skills help children with their transition into kindergarten by making them more comfortable and confident in their new environment. Knowing their name and basic information helps with personal identity and safety. Recognizing shapes, numbers, and letters allows them to follow along with classroom activities, while social skills like taking turns and listening make it easier to interact with peers and teachers, fostering a positive learning experience from the start. 

Research shows, however, that both social-emotional and cognitive skills like literacy have a significant impact on children’s success later in life. In a peer-reviewed study conducted by Dr. Shane Piasta at the Crane Center, “children who learn the forms, names and sounds of letters during early childhood are less likely to experience reading difficulties later in school”. Another study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, suggests that kindergarten students with higher social emotional skills are less likely to struggle later in life, including a lower likelihood of needing welfare assistance as an adult and a higher likelihood of graduating high school and holding a job as a young adult. 

Right now, Ohio has work to do to catch up. According to KRA data analyzed by Groundwork Ohio, almost 65% of Ohio kindergarteners were not ready for the 2022-2023 school year, meaning they lacked multiple key skills needed to start kindergarten. To avoid children starting behind and staying behind, it’s critical that all early learning advocates are aware of what’s needed for kindergarten and can play an active role in reducing educational inequities that hold young children back. 

How can I start preparing my child? 

Building kindergarten-readiness skills starts early and creates a strong foundation for your child’s continued success in school and life!  

To start, Action for Children’s Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) program aids Franklin County families in getting their children ready for kindergarten. Our staff can meet at your home or a location of your choice to go over school readiness lessons, free books and activities, and connections to community resources.  

There are also many activities that caregivers can do on their own and incorporate into daily routines to help their child strengthen their cognitive and social emotional skills when they are young. These can include:  

• Taking your child on a walk and playing “I Spy!” 
  • I Spy is a game where you look around for a specific object and then tell the other person “I spy something [insert color or first letter of object].” Your child can then look around at their surroundings trying to guess the specific object! This helps your child learn their colors and letters, as well as recognize common objects around them.  

• Cooking together! 
  • Cooking is a great way to help your child improve their counting skills. If you are putting fresh veggies in a meal, they can help you count how many you are using! Or, if you are measuring out a cup, use 4 ¼ cups to help them understand fractions! 

• Having your child help you match socks! 
  • Matching socks helps a child recognize colors, patterns, and size. By identifying the difference between their dad’s big and plain socks versus their sister’s small and polka dot socks, a child can improve their skills recognizing and remembering details.   

• Identifying emotions! 
  • When you notice your child experiencing strong emotions, good or bad, work with them to identify them! Ask them to name how they are feeling, and if they are unsure, talk it through with them. By allowing your child to connect with their feelings, they will be better equipped to deal with them.  

• Make a game of waiting in line! 
  • Whether at the grocery store or at the playground in line for the slide, help your child get used to waiting. Playing a game or singing a song in line can pass the time, and the waiting will help improve your child’s patience and their social skills.  

These are just a few examples of how you can help your child prepare for kindergarten, but there are countless other ways and opportunities to do so. At Action for Children, our SPARK home-visiting team is here to help you!

With school right around the corner, August is the prime time to enroll in Action for Children’s SPARK program! Through free home visiting lessons, our staff helps families in Franklin County improve their 3- and 4-year old’s social, math, and reading skills so that they are ready to thrive in kindergarten. If you are the parent of a 3- or 4-year-old — or younger and you want to plan ahead — fill out our Connect Form to learn more about Action for Children’s SPARK Program today!  

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Author: Shea McHugh, Advocacy Associate at Action for Children 
Contributor: Abigail Alexander, Program Coordinator for SPARK at Action for Children 

Action for Children is the local child care resource and referral agency for central Ohio, and is committed to assuring quality early learning experiences for all children. Our services focus on transforming the lives of children by supporting the everyday heroes who most influence our children’s early growth; care givers, educators, parents, and guardians. Learn More.