Is Your Child Ready for School? Oral Language Ability

Have you been wondering if your child is ready for school? Getting ready for school is such an exciting time, for both children and their parents! There’s nothing quite like the excitement (and nervous anticipation) of purchasing school supplies, heading to orientations, and watching your child prepare to navigate the world of higher education. 
 
One of the biggest questions parents often ask when it comes to their pre-school aged children, is ‘How do we know that they are ready for big school?’  

It’s easy to become overwhelmed when considering the skills your child may need to have mastered by the time that they start school. The most common skills that parents assume their child needs include reading, writing, counting, or spelling. However, while there is absolutely a place for these skills, there are many other, arguably more important areas of development that should also be investigated while establishing school readiness.  

Oral Language Ability 

Learning to read and write is such a fundamental goal in education, but the foundations of these skills start with simple communication. Things to look out for include: 

• Everyday Conversations 

Are they speaking in full sentences, using appropriate describing words, or applying grammar where appropriate? Do they have trouble spitting out what they want to say, or are they able to hold a conversation fluently? 

• Expanding Vocabulary 

Children are like sponges - they see, hear and observe everything that goes around them. An expanding language bank is one of the best indicators that their skills are developing.  

• Recall and Questioning 

Are they able to re-tell stories or recount experiences verbally with detail that is appropriate to their age? Do they ask questions when they don’t understand, or when they are building on their curiosity? 

There is no set age that a child develops these important oral language skills - it is very much down to the individual. If your child is unable to ask questions or share their basic needs, this can lead to frustration or emotional outbursts, which makes the settling process much more difficult than it needs to be.  

If you’re unsure whether your child’s oral language ability is sound, it’s important to seek advice from their current educators, or a qualified speech and language therapist who may be able to assess them individually and advise you on strategies to try to implement at home. 

What's Next?

As you can see, there really is so much more to school readiness then whether your child can pick up a pencil and write a story, or read a written story independently.

The most important thing is to look at your child as an individual, as opposed to comparing to others – and if you need a little extra support or guidance, look to a qualified speech pathologist to help you on your way.

If you would love to assist your child in getting ready for school, then my Kick Start Kindy program would be perfect. Otherwise, download the free School Readiness checklist to see if your little one is ready for big school!