School Readiness: Self-Care and Social Skills Before K1

The most useful preparation for K1 is usually not reading and writing, but everyday independence and getting along with others. Kindergarten interviews and the first weeks of school mostly revolve around these daily skills. Here are a few areas you can nurture gently at home.

Self-care

This is what kindergartens value most, because teachers can't attend to every child at once:

• Toileting — able to say when they need the toilet; gradually out of nappies.
• Eating — can use a spoon and drink from a cup.
• Dressing — can put on and take off shoes and a jacket, and pull up trousers.
• Tidying — puts toys back after play.

Social and emotional

• Learning to take turns and share — for example, waiting for a turn with a toy.
• Using words rather than crying to express needs, such as "I want water".
• Beginning to manage feelings — settling down after a setback.

Language and expression

• Can say their own name and age.
• Can follow simple instructions like "please sit down" or "pick up the book".
• Can give simple answers to an adult's questions.

Daily routine

• A steady sleep and daily routine.
• Practising sitting still for a short while — looking at a picture book together, for instance.
• A gentle "rehearsal" of the school routine before term starts, to reduce the unfamiliarity.

Good to know

• The key is everyday build-up, not last-minute drilling — reading, chatting, play and self-care practice do far more than rehearsing interview questions.
• Every child moves at their own pace; there's no need to compare. Time and encouragement matter most.
• For what interviews actually look like, see The kindergarten interview guide.