School Readiness Program
We understand the significance of preparing children for the academic journey, and thus, we incorporate a dedicated school-readiness initiative within our early intervention offerings. Utilising the expertise of our specialist educators, this program is carefully crafted to instill fundamental skills and capabilities essential for a smooth transition to formal schooling.
Skills and Areas for the School-Readiness Program
Here are some specific skills and areas that our School Readiness Program at The Whole Child Connection may focus on to prepare children for their transition to formal schooling dependent on their capacities and goals; by incorporating play-based learning and child-led activities tailored to each client’s interests, development and readiness.
Cognitive Skills:
Language development: Building vocabulary and improving communication skills.
Numeracy skills: Introducing basic maths concepts such as counting, sorting, and patterns.
Problem-solving: Encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving abilities through puzzles, games, and hands-on activities.
Literacy skills: Promoting early literacy skills such as critical literacy and comprehension from age-appropriate storybooks.
Social Skills:
Peer interaction: Facilitating opportunities for the client to engage in cooperative play, share, take turns, and collaborate with peers.
Conflict resolution: Teaching strategies for resolving conflicts and promoting positive social interactions.
Following instructions: Helping the client develop the ability to listen attentively and follow simple instructions from teachers and peers.
Emotional Skills:
Self-regulation: Teaching techniques for managing emotions, such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness activities, and self-calming strategies.
Empathy: Fostering empathy and understanding towards others’ feelings and perspectives through storytelling, role-playing, and play.
Resilience: Building resilience by encouraging perseverance, problem-solving, and coping skills when faced with challenges or setbacks.
Practical Skills:
Independence: Promoting self-help skills such as dressing, toileting, and tidying up to foster independence and confidence.
Organisational and executive functioning skills: Introducing basic organisational skills such as keeping track of belongings, following routines, and managing time effectively.
Fine motor skills: Enhancing fine motor skills through activities like drawing, cutting, threading beads, and manipulating small objects.
Adaptability and Curiosity:
Encouraging curiosity: Providing opportunities for exploration, experimentation, and discovery to stimulate curiosity and a love for learning.
Flexibility: Supporting children in adapting to new routines, environments, and social situations to ease the transition to formal schooling.