Kindergarten Readiness and Later Outcomes

When you work with young children you see first hand how important kindergarten is for a student. It is the year that students continue to develop self-regulation, self-care, academic, and social emotional skills. Kindergarten readiness is all about what children need to start kindergarten with skills such as language, early literacy, math, fine motor, gross motor, self-care, and social emotional. Recent research examined kindergarten readiness and academic, psychological, and health risks by end of high school.

Methodology of the Study on Kindergarten Readiness

The participants included 966 Canadian children who were assessed at age 5 for number knowledge, receptive vocabulary and kindergarten classroom engagement. Then at age 17, each participants reported academic grades, school connectedness, anxiety sensitivity, substance abuse, physical activity involvement, and height and weight. High school dropout risk was also estimated.

Results of the Study

Following data analysis the researchers determined the following:

kindergarten math skills contributed to better end-of high school grades and lower dropout risk
receptive vocabulary predicted lower anxiety sensitivity
kindergarten classroom engagement predicted higher end of high school grades, lower dropout risk, better school connectedness, lower risk of substance abuse, and more physical activity involvement.
kindergarten classroom engagement was also associated with a 65% reduction in the odds of being overweight at age of 17.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that children who display kindergarten readiness skills when they start school, gained a lifestyle advantage, had a reduced health burden and possibly a decreased high school drop out rate. Promoting kindergarten readiness could greatly help young children throughout life.

Reference: Fitzpatrick, C., Boers, E., & Pagani, L. S. (2020). Kindergarten Readiness, Later Health, and Social Costs. Pediatrics, 146(6).

Resource to Help Children with Kindergarten Readiness

Have you noticed a change in children being ready to start school? With the decrease in outdoor play and the increase in screen time, many children are just not physically ready to participate in school. The Get Fit for School webinar entitled “Popcorn and Animals Make My Muscles Strong!” can help educate parents, teachers, and therapists on how we can effectively prepare children physically for success at school! The instructor, Ingrid C. King MScOT, BOT, developed this webinar to teach you how to use a play-based approach to help children get fit for school. FIND OUT MORE HERE.

FREE Kindergarten Sight Word Game