With the 2027 school year approaching, many parents are wondering whether their children are ready for Grade 1.

Experts reckon that school readiness, however, involves much more than knowledge of the alphabet, counting skills and the ability to write a name.

When a child moves from Grade R to Grade 1, they enter a new environment with new routines, expectations, friends and a teacher.

The adjustment may be easier for some children than for others. Thus, it is important to understand school readiness and to prepare your child early on, especially during the last quarter of their preschool year, education experts believe.

“You can never start too early,” believes Mariska Steenkamp, a foundation phase expert attached to the Professional Services team of the SAOU.

She says early academic skills are really important, but form only one part of a child’s preparation for Grade 1. “School readiness is a broad developing process that also includes a learner’s language, paying attention, self-regulation, social skills, independence and ability to function within a new environment.”

She believes one of the most important skills for school readiness is a child’s ability to listen, understand and respond appropriately.

She points out that in Grade 1, learners are expected to receive and process verbal information. Teachers give instructions, explain activities, tell stories and ask questions.

“The learner must not just hear what is being said, but also listen, understand what is being communicated and be able to respond,” Steenkamp explains.

She believes this skill supports a child’s ability to follow instructions, participate in discussions, ask questions, and ask for help when they do not understand.

According to her, paying attention and concentration also play an important role.

Learners are increasingly expected to focus their attention on a particular activity and to keep it for an age-appropriate time. This does not mean that a child must sit still for long periods or may never get distracted.

“It is more about a learner being able to focus, stay busy with a task and focus again after getting distracted,” she explains.

Emotional regulation is another important aspect of school readiness, she adds.

The first year of formal school can bring new challenges and frustrations. Children must learn to handle new routines, expectations and social situations.

“A learner does not always have to be able to handle their emotions well. This is something that even adults struggle with,” she points out. “What is important is that the learner gradually learns to recognise their emotions, put them into words and calm down again with support.”

Language skills are also an important part of a child’s ability to function within the classroom. A child must increasingly be able to express what they are thinking, feeling or needing.

“A learner does not always have the perfect words,” says Steenkamp. “It is important that they can increasingly indicate what they are thinking, feeling or needing, as well as ask questions when they do not understand and ask for help when needed.”

She points out that independence within a group is the fifth skill that parents must focus on, precisely because Grade 1 comes with a bigger responsibility for simple tasks.

Learners must be able to follow more class routines, take care of their belongings, take turns and work with other children, among others.

“Of course, a learner does not have to be able to do everything for themselves,” she says. “However, it helps when they can take on more responsibility for simple tasks and function within a group.”

These skills must, however, not be used as a strict test to determine whether a child is ready or not. School readiness develops over time and children do not progress at the same tempo.

“School readiness is not merely an issue of what a learner can do already. It is also about the skills that are developing further and can be supported throughout the year,” Steenkamp explains.

“We want to focus specifically on which skills need help or what still needs to be developed. When parents and teachers can join hands to master those skills, we can help the new Grade 1s to take the next step with self-confidence.”

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok or WhatsApp Channel