Heart Start: The Emotional Foundations for School Readiness
Find out about seven characteristics that prepare young children for school: confidence, curiosity, intentionality, self-control, relatedness, capacity to communicate, and cooperativeness.
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School Readiness
School readiness is foundational across early childhood systems and programs. It means children are ready for school, families are ready to support their children's learning, and schools are ready for children. Head Start views school readiness as children possessing the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for success in school and for later learning and life. Physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development are all essential ingredients of school readiness. Managers, teaching staff, caregivers, family advocates, and families can learn more about creating enriching and supportive learning environments for young children ages birth to 5.
From Research to Practice: Implications for Programs
Explore the critical link between infants’ and toddlers’ social and emotional development and their early learning. Learn how this connection can help self-regulate, communicate and learn, and get along with peers.
Social and Emotional Development Connect to Other Areas of Development
All areas of children’s development, including social and emotional, influence each other. Learn how infants’ and toddlers’ development unfolds within the context of their relationships with caring adults.
Relationships Facilitate Learning
Discover how infants and toddlers learn through relationships with caring adults. Learn ways secure relationships help children feel safe, secure, and confident, while supporting their learning.
Staff Can Best Support Children by Supporting Their Parents
Explore ways Head Start infant-toddler programs can support families’ efforts to improve their life circumstances. Find out how programs can help parents be their children’s first and most important teachers.
Conclusion
The foundations for school readiness are set in the earliest years of life. Learn ways infants and toddlers acquire the skills they will need for success in school.
Appendix A: Observation Handout
Use this handout with education staff and families to identify interactions with infants and toddlers. Consider how they support development in the Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) domains and sub-domains.
References
Learn more about school readiness. Explore these references in The Foundations for School Readiness: Fostering Developmental Competence in the Earliest Years, Technical Assistance Paper No. 6.
Supporting the A in STEAM with Infants and Toddlers
From an early age, the arts can help children communicate and connect. Discover how arts experiences support young children's development across the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework domains.
Healthy Transitions to Kindergarten
Explore this tip sheet to find questions to engage families about kindergarten readiness. Learn about suggested actions health services staff may take to help children transition to kindergarten.
