Kindergarten Readiness Begins at Birth
How responsive relationships shape school success
Why the First Five Years Matter
90% of brain growth happens before kindergarten. Conversational turns — just simple back-and-forth interactions between a child and an adult — are powerful forces for growth. They can literally change the course of a child’s entire life!
During these years, children develop the skills essential for school success:
- Naming letters and reading words
- Understanding books and stories
- Communicating their needs effectively
- Managing their emotions
Using healthy social skills
Growing Into School Readiness
Kindergarten readiness isn’t about checking boxes on a universal list. It’s complicated. Each child develops uniquely, and true readiness happens when both children AND schools are prepared for each other. Research shows that readiness is an “ecological outcome” — the result of children, families, schools, and communities working together. However, five key areas that work together to prepare children for school success are:
Language & Literacy
- Understanding and using words to communicate needs
- Enjoying books and recognizing some letters
- Following simple directions and stories
Cognitive Development
- Solving simple problems and puzzles
- Sorting objects by color, shape, or size
- Counting and recognizing patterns
Physical Well-Being
- Using crayons, safety scissors, and other tools
- Running, jumping, and moving with confidence
- Managing self-care tasks like handwashing
Social Skills
- Taking turns and sharing with classmates
- Expressing feelings in appropriate ways
- Adjusting to new routines and separating from caregivers
Approaches to Learning
- Staying focused on activities for 10-15 minutes
- Showing curiosity and asking questions
- Trying new things even when challenging
Interactive Talk Builds School-Ready Brains
Simply talking to children isn’t enough. Children thrive on positive interactions. When adults respond to a child’s babbles, questions, or comments, they’re building neural pathways that support the skills needed for kindergarten success.
Research reveals that children who engage in regular back-and-forth conversations show:
- Larger vocabularies
- Better reading comprehension
- Stronger phonological awareness
- Enhanced storytelling abilities
- Greater kindergarten readiness
LENA’s work with early childhood educators sets children and teachers up for success in all of these areas!
From First Words to Third Grade Reading
Research shows that kindergarten readiness is strongly linked to third grade reading proficiency — a critical milestone in a child’s academic journey. Children who aren’t reading well by third grade are:
- 4x less likely to graduate high school on time
- More likely to struggle across all subject areas
- At higher risk for long-term challenges in education and career
Each conversational turn in early childhood helps build the foundation that leads to reading success. This creates a continuous pathway from early talk to lifelong achievement.
Powering School Readiness
Research from Cherokee County, S.C., shows children LENA Grow participants in pre-K classrooms were 1.8x more likely to demonstrate kindergarten readiness in language and literacy.
Measuring What Matters in Early Childhood
In today’s world, we can measure what matters and use that information to help children develop better literacy skills in early childhood.
LENA’s professional development program measures the back and forth conversations children experience with adults throughout the day. This program:
- Shows teachers and caregivers where they’re already strong
- Identifies opportunities to talk more
- Guides improvements that really work
- Tracks progress over time
The result? Children experience more brain-building conversations, and adults gain confidence in their ability to support every child’s development.
Resources to Help Children Thrive
Early Talk = School Readiness
Prepare young minds for future success at school — by talking with them now!
Rethinking School Readiness
“School readiness” often gets tangled in a web of standards and divided responsibilities. So let’s simplify it. We’re rethinking school readiness by focusing on the essentials: early language skills that form the bedrock of future success.
Understanding Kindergarten Readiness as a Pathway to Lifelong Learning
Kindergarten readiness (sometimes called “school readiness”) means a lot of things to a lot of people … but what exactly is it?
Ready to Transform Children's Futures?
Ready to kickstart kindergarten success for the children in your life? School readiness starts with you! Whether you’re looking to use LENA Grow or simply learn more, we’d love to connect.