School Readiness

Parents often ask, “Will my child be ready for kindergarten?” We encourage parents to breathe a sigh of relief and realize that kindergarten is not an end-goal, but yet another beautiful step in your child’s journey.

We use a guide entitled North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development. This guide has been published and formally endorsed by the NC Board of Education. Much like the “Standard Course of Study” for Kindergarten through 12th grade, NC Foundations is a compilation of learning experiences that children should ideally experience by the end of their preschool years.

The following domains are addressed in the NC Foundations publication:

1) Approaches to Learning

• Pondering, Processing, and Applying Experiences
• Curiosity, Information-Seeking, and Eagerness
• Risk-Taking, Problem-Solving, and Flexibility
• Persistence, Attentiveness, and Responsibility
• Imagination, Creativity, and Invention
• Aesthetic Sensibility/Wonder and Delight

2) Emotional/Social Development

• Developing a Sense of Self
• Developing a Sense of Self with Others
• Learning About Feelings

3) Cognitive Development

• Mathematical Thinking and Expression
• Scientific Thinking and Invention
• Social Connections
• Creative Expression
• Sensory Exploration and Discovery
• Concept Development and Memory
• Problem-solving

4) Language Development/Communication

• Receptive Language
• Expressive Language
• Early Literacy
• Foundations for Reading
• Foundations for Writing

5) Health/Physical Development

• Self-Care
• Safety Awareness
• Motor Skills (Gross Motor/Large Muscle and Fine Motor/Small Muscle)
• Physical Health and Growth