When you talk, read, and sing with your child—even before they can use words—you’re building their brain and helping to prepare them for success in school and in life.
But it may not always be easy to talk to babies, especially when they can’t talk back. To help, we’ve pulled fun tips and resources grounded in the best science, to help you talk, read, and sing with your child every day.
Let’s Talk about School Readiness Calendar
Get Your Child Ready For Success in School and in Life!
The Great Start Collaborative of Berrien County’s Definition of School Readiness
“School readiness” describes the abilities of children, their families, schools, and communities that will best promote student success in kindergarten and later grades. Each piece – children, families, schools and communities – plays an essential role in the development of school readiness. No one piece can stand on its own.
Ready Children.
A ready child has strong relationships, a strong mind, and a strong body. Within each of those areas, key skills are developed so that children begin Kindergarten ready to learn and be successful.
Ready Families.
A ready family has adults who understand they are the most important people in the child’s life. They take responsibility for their child’s school readiness by playing and interacting with their child in a positive way every single day.
Ready Schools.
A ready school accepts all children, has high expectations, and provides a welcoming transition to a high-quality classroom, where the child feels safe, comfortable and able to learn. Children in ready schools are led by skilled teachers, who recognize children’s strengths and who are respectful of cultural values and individual differences.
Ready Communities.
A ready community plays an important role in supporting families as they help their child get ready for school. Ready communities work together to support a child’s school by providing families with affordable access to information, services, high-quality child care, and early learning experiences.
