Preparing Your Young Child for School: Emotional Readiness

By Emily Darling-Funk, MA, Ionia County Community Mental Health

We all experience BIG emotions of all kinds, and you can help your child learn these skills, even from birth! Studies indicate that children who can regulate themselves emotionally (calm themselves down when they are upset, for example) have improved success with higher level cognitive functions needed for learning (Blair, 2002, p. 121).  Some examBy Emily Darling-Funk, MA, Ionia County Community Mental Healthples would be:

• Infants need lots of rocking, holding, and physical touch to begin developing skills of emotional regulation.
• Parents can respond warmly and stay in control, even when your child loses control. This helps children feel safe.
• Helping your child name his/her emotions helps them feel understood and makes it easier for them to calm down.
• You can provide your child with a nurturing environment where he/she knows what to expect and when, like a daily routine. This helps children feel in control of themselves and their environment, and prepares them for the routines they will learn when in school.

It’s never too early to begin readying your children for this exciting time in their lives. More information about readying your young children for school can be found at www.zerotothree.org

Reference

Blair, C. (2002). Integrating Cognition and Emotion in a Neurobiological Conceptualization of Children’s Function at School Entry. American Psychologist, 57, 111-127.