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.
As children play, their brain builds connections that support many skills, including the skill of self-regulation. Learn how you can be the child’s most important teacher and “guide on the side” as they play.
Toddlers learn by following their curiosity. Learn how to support them as they gain new skills and concepts by exploring and experimenting. Discover ways you can guide their learning as they engage with the world.
Infants are born ready to learn. Learn strategies to support babies’ sensory experience of the world around them during their first year of life.
Children need extra support in their earliest days to grow a healthy brain. Caring relationships, child-centered interactions, and responsive care are keys to nurturing healthy brain development.
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.
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.
Learn ways to update school readiness goals to align with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF). Find out how to identify child assessment data to measure progress.
Discover how to use the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) tools to plan professional development. Find ways to help staff in supporting children’s development and learning in the ELOF domains.
When you read with children, they connect the words they hear to the pictures on the page and things in their world. Learn why story time is important for children’s brain development.
Children learn best from rich, responsive social interactions with other people. These interactions allow children and adults to share attention and build bonds.Explore the importance of adults’ responsive social interactions with children. Find out how these interactions allow children and adults to share attention and build bonds.