Frequently asked questions.

1. What is school readiness?

School readiness means your child has the social, emotional, physical and early academic skills they need to start their first formal year of schooling with confidence. It’s less about “knowing everything” and more about being ready to learn, follow routines and communicate their needs.

If you’d like a simple, parent-friendly guide, our Prep for Success® School Readiness eBook breaks this down step-by-step.

2. What should my child know before starting Kindergarten?

Most children benefit from being able to:

  • recognise some letters and numbers

  • speak in sentences

  • follow simple instructions

  • play with others

  • hold a pencil

  • manage basic self-care (e.g., toileting, opening lunchboxes)

3. How can I help my child with early reading skills?

Focus on:

  • reading aloud daily

  • talking about pictures

  • playing sound and rhyme games

  • noticing letters in the environment

  • introducing simple phonics naturally in play

4. What early numeracy skills should my child have?

Your child will benefit from:

  • counting forwards and backwards

  • recognising numbers to 10

  • sorting, matching and grouping

  • simple patterns

  • using language like “more”, “less”, “bigger”, “smaller”

5. Does my child need to know how to write before school?

No. But it helps if they can:

  • use a pincer grip

  • draw simple shapes

  • attempt to write their name

Our handwriting guide is an excellent resource to support foundational development in writing.

6. How can I prepare my child socially and emotionally?

Try building:

  • turn-taking

  • sharing

  • coping with small frustrations

  • asking for help

  • managing big emotions

Routine, playdates and simple social stories all help.

8. How can I prepare my child for the first day of school?

Practice:

  • opening lunchboxes

  • packing a bag

  • using the toilet independently

  • saying goodbye confidently

  • following short routines

Many parents use our School Readiness Guide to assist in understanding first-day expectations.

9. What school readiness activities can I do at home?

Simple is best:

  • read together

  • count objects around the house

  • play naming/identifying games

  • draw and colour

  • practise taking turns

  • go on nature walks to build vocabulary

Our shop includes low-prep, play-based printable activities perfect for 10-minute home routines.

10. Is your school readiness program designed for busy parents?

Yes! Everything on our website is designed to be:

  • quick to use

  • easy to understand

  • research-based but parent-friendly

  • playful and fun

11. What age should I start preparing my child for school?

Most families start between ages 3–5, but school readiness develops gradually through early play, relationships and everyday activities.

Our Prep for Success® School Readiness eBook is ideal for parents wanting a simple roadmap from ages 3+.

12. Where can I find simple school readiness resources?

You can explore our shop for parent-friendly:

  • printable worksheets

  • phonics and numeracy games

  • fine-motor activities

  • helpful guides

All designed for play-based practice at home.