Ready to Learn: The Key Behaviors That Show Your Child is Ready for School
Getting ready for school is about more than learning letters and numbers—it’s about building the social, emotional, and behavioral foundations that help children thrive in a classroom environment.
As families begin thinking about preschool or kindergarten, it’s natural to wonder: Is my child ready? School readiness can look different for every child. Rather than focusing solely on academic milestones, the U.S. Department of Education, explains that key social-emotional and behavioral skills are among the strongest predictors of school readiness—often even more so than early academic knowledge.1 How your child adapts to routines, communicates, and navigates social interactions is directly linked to a successful transition to school life..
While early literacy and numeracy are important, the most reliable signs of school readiness often show up in a child’s behavior, routines, and relationships. The ability to follow directions, communicate needs, play with others, and manage emotions all contribute to a smooth transition into a structured classroom setting.
At Taipei American School (TAS), we recognize that every child develops at their own pace. That said, there are several common behaviors that suggest a child is well on their way to being ready for school. Here’s what to look for—and how you can support these skills at home.
Shows Curiosity and Eagerness to Learn
Children who show curiosity—by asking questions, exploring their environment, or showing interest in new things—are already demonstrating one of the most important foundations of lifelong learning: engagement. In fact, researchers at the University of Michigan found that preschoolers who show curiosity and a desire to explore tend to start kindergarten with stronger reading and math skills.2 Encouraging that curiosity will help set the stage for engaged learning.
Ways to Encourage Curiosity at Home:
- Offer open-ended toys like blocks, art supplies, or sensory bins
- Go on nature walks and talk about what you see together
- Read books and ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think will happen next?”
Unstructured play is another wonderful way to foster curiosity. Give children the space to explore ideas freely and follow their own interests.
Can Follow Simple Directions
In a classroom setting, children are asked to follow routines, transition between tasks, and listen to teacher instructions. The ability to follow two- or three-step directions is a helpful sign that your child is ready for this kind of structure. Child development researcher Dr. Megan McClelland (Oregon State University) has shown that when young children practice skills like listening, following directions, and self-control, they’re more likely to succeed in early reading and math. Playing games like Simon Says is a fun way to help them learn.3 Setting up playdates or small group activities can help develop these skills.
Try These Practice Ideas at Home:
- Simon Says – A fun and playful way to reinforce listening and sequencing
- Routine-based directions – For example, “First, brush your teeth. Then, put on your shoes.”
- Cooking together – Ask your child to follow steps like handing you ingredients or mixing in order
Engages in Cooperative Play and Social Interaction
School is a social experience. Children who are learning to share, take turns, and play collaboratively with others are building the foundation for successful relationships and group learning. According to a national survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, kindergarten teachers consistently rank social skills—like getting along with peers and following classroom rules—as some of the most important signs of school readiness.4 Setting up playdates or small group activities can help develop these skills.
How to Support Social Readiness:
- Schedule playdates or small group activities to practice social interaction
- Use role-playing games (like “store” or “school”) to model positive communication
- Teach simple conflict resolution strategies, like taking turns or using kind words to express needs
Demonstrates Independence in Self-Care Tasks
Key Self-Care Skills to Practice:
- Using the bathroom independently, including washing hands
- Dressing themselves—zipping up coats, putting on shoes
- Opening lunch containers and feeding themselves with minimal assistance
Progress, not perfection, is the goal. Encouraging independence at home builds readiness over time.
Regulates Emotions and Expresses Needs
Regulates Emotions and Expresses Needs
Starting school comes with lots of emotions—excitement, nerves, pride, and even frustration. Children who can recognize and express their feelings in healthy ways are more likely to feel safe and confident in new environments.
How to Build Emotional Resilience:
At TAS, our Early Childhood program is designed to meet children where they are, while gently guiding them forward. We support school readiness through:
- Small student-teacher ratios that allow for individualized attention.
- Play-based, inquiry-driven learning that fosters curiosity and critical thinking.
- A focus on social-emotional development to help children navigate emotions and relationships with confidence.
Our classrooms are nurturing spaces where children feel seen, supported, and celebrated as learners.
Is Your Child Ready for School? Let’s Find Out Together!
Every child grows and develops in their own unique way. Recognizing these key behaviors can help you feel confident about your child’s next steps—and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Check Out Our School Readiness Behavior Checklists
Would you like some clear ideas to help your child get ready to enter pre-kindergarten?
Download our Free School Readiness Checklists with reaserach based ideas to support your child’s development at home!
Read more about how to nurture the skills to help your preschooler be successful
From resilience to curiosity, discover how intentional learning environments set children up for academic achievement and life success.
How Play-Based Learning at TAS Prepares Children for a Lifetime of Success
Navigating Big Transitions: Helping Young Children Adapt to School Life
Building Confident Mathematicians: How TAS Develops Flexible Thinkers in Early Childhood
- Denham, S. A. (2006). Social–emotional competence as support for school readiness: What is it and how do we assess it? Early Education & Development, 17(1), 57–89.
- Shah, P. E., et al. (2018). Early childhood curiosity and kindergarten academic achievement. Pediatric Research, 84(3), 380–386.
- McClelland, M. M., et al. (2007). Links between behavioral regulation and preschoolers’ literacy, vocabulary, and math skills. Developmental Psychology, 43(4), 947–959.
- Heaviside, S., & Farris, E. (1993). Public school kindergarten teachers’ views on children’s school readiness (NCES 93-410). U.S. Department of Education.