Kindergarten Readiness - Tustin Unified School District

The Kindergarten Readiness program creates a learning environment supporting the early education needs of all potty-trained children ages 3-5 throughout Birmingham.

Kindergarten readiness refers to the developmental domains that contribute to children's ability to adapt to the kindergarten classroom, which is often a new and unfamiliar environment. There is no single agreed upon definition of Kindergarten readiness. The domains often included in the definition include, academic skills (e.g., early literacy and mathematics understanding, etc.), social-emotional development (e.g., self-regulation , prosocial behaviour , etc.), and physical development (e.g., motor development, sensory development, etc.). In addition to these competencies, the child's environment and opportunities for learning should also be considered. This includes the child's home environment and their interactions with teachers and peers.

UPSTART is a free, at-home kindergarten readiness program that prepares preschool-age children for kindergarten.

Children from low-income families enter kindergarten up to 60% behind their more affluent peers. By age 6, these children are at a significant disadvantage as they head into their school years and this gap only widens as they move through the grades. Kindergarten readiness is a focus that sets children on the right path for school success and life-long learning, avoiding costly interventions down the line.

At the Urban Child Institute, we've spent a considerable amount of time talking about " kindergarten readiness ." Often we focus on the fact that kindergarten readiness is critical for lifetime well being. However, too few children are fully prepared for kindergarten. What does this phrase mean, though? What are the specific skills and requirements for kindergarten readiness that these unprepared children are lacking? Without a universal definition, kindergarten readiness becomes a matter of perspective. State policy, teachers, and parents differ greatly in the ways in which they determine a child is ready for school.

The Kindergarten Readiness Checklist will give you an idea on what areas your child is doing well in, and where they may need some extra attention.