School Readiness: Communication Skills for Success

Starting kindergarten marks a major milestone in your child's life. Beyond knowing letters and numbers, success in school heavily depends on communication skills—the ability to understand instructions, express needs, interact with peers, and engage with learning materials. Understanding which communication skills matter most helps parents prepare children for this important transition.

Essential Communication Skills for Kindergarten

School readiness involves multiple interconnected communication abilities that support academic and social success:

Receptive Language (Understanding)

Following Directions Kindergarteners need to:

• Follow 2-3 step instructions
• Understand classroom routines
• Process directions with the whole group
• Remember and complete tasks
• Understand positional concepts (first, last, middle)

Listening Comprehension Essential skills include:

• Attending to short stories
• Answering questions about stories
• Making predictions
• Understanding cause and effect
• Following along with group lessons

Vocabulary Comprehension Children should understand:

• Basic academic vocabulary
• Temporal concepts (before, after, during)
• Spatial concepts (between, beside, behind)
• Quantity concepts (more, less, equal)
• Descriptive language (colors, sizes, shapes)

Expressive Language (Speaking)

Sentence Structure Kindergarten-ready children typically:

• Speak in complete sentences (5-6+ words)
• Use correct grammar most of the time
• Ask and answer various question types
• Use past, present, and future tenses
• Connect ideas with "and," "but," "because"

Vocabulary Use Expected abilities include:

• Using 2,000+ words
• Describing objects and events
• Explaining how things work
• Categorizing items
• Using specific rather than general terms

Narrative Skills Children should begin to:

• Tell simple stories with beginning, middle, end
• Describe recent experiences
• Retell familiar stories
• Explain problems and solutions
• Share ideas during circle time

Speech Sound Production

Intelligibility By kindergarten entry:

• Strangers understand 90-100% of speech
• Most speech sounds are correct
• May still develop r, th, or complex blends
• Consistent error patterns resolved
• Clear enough for classroom participation

Sound Awareness Pre-reading skills include:

• Recognizing rhyming words
• Producing rhymes
• Identifying beginning sounds
• Clapping syllables
• Playing with sounds in words

Pragmatic Language (Social Communication)

Classroom Communication Essential skills include:

• Taking turns in conversation
• Staying on topic
• Using appropriate volume
• Making eye contact
• Raising hand to speak

Peer Interaction Social communication involves:

• Initiating interactions
• Joining group play
• Negotiating and compromising
• Understanding others' perspectives
• Using polite language

Non-Verbal Communication Important abilities include:

• Reading facial expressions
• Understanding body language
• Using appropriate personal space
• Showing active listening
• Using gestures appropriately

Pre-Literacy Skills

Phonological Awareness

Foundation for reading includes:

• Rhyme recognition and production
• Syllable segmentation
• Beginning sound identification
• Sound blending basics
• Alliteration awareness

Print Awareness

Understanding about books and writing:

• Book handling (front, back, right way up)
• Reading direction (left to right)
• Difference between pictures and words
• Recognition that print carries meaning
• Interest in environmental print

Letter Knowledge

Basic expectations include:

• Recognizing some letters
• Knowing letters in own name
• Understanding letters make sounds
• Beginning letter-sound connections
• Distinguishing letters from numbers

Assessment Checklist

Use this checklist to evaluate your child's readiness:

Language Understanding ✓

• [ ] Follows 2-3 step directions
• [ ] Answers who, what, where, when, why questions
• [ ] Understands basic concepts (big/small, same/different)
• [ ] Comprehends simple stories
• [ ] Knows basic categories (food, animals, clothes)

Language Expression ✓

• [ ] Speaks in complete sentences
• [ ] Describes pictures and events
• [ ] Asks questions appropriately
• [ ] Uses appropriate grammar
• [ ] Has adequate vocabulary for age

Speech Production ✓

• [ ] Speech understood by unfamiliar listeners
• [ ] Produces most sounds correctly
• [ ] Can modify volume and rate
• [ ] Shows awareness of sound patterns
• [ ] Attempts new words confidently

Social Communication ✓

• [ ] Maintains appropriate eye contact
• [ ] Takes turns in conversation
• [ ] Understands personal space
• [ ] Shows interest in peers
• [ ] Uses polite language

Pre-Academic Skills ✓

• [ ] Shows interest in books
• [ ] Recognizes some letters/numbers
• [ ] Can rhyme words
• [ ] Identifies colors and shapes
• [ ] Counts to 10 or higher

Building School-Ready Communication Skills

Daily Activities

Morning Routines

• Sequence getting ready steps
• Describe the day's plans
• Practice time concepts
• Make choices and explain reasoning
• Review calendar and weather

Mealtime Learning

• Follow recipes together
• Describe foods (taste, texture, color)
• Practice table manners
• Discuss healthy choices
• Count and sort items

Bedtime Preparation

• Read stories every night
• Discuss story elements
• Make predictions
• Create alternate endings
• Talk about characters' feelings

Structured Practice

Direction Following Games

• Simon Says with multiple steps
• Obstacle courses with instructions
• Treasure hunts with clues
• Recipe following
• Craft projects with steps

Storytelling Activities

• Picture sequencing cards
• Wordless picture books
• Family photo narratives
• Experience journals
• Puppet shows

Phonological Awareness Fun

• Rhyming books and songs
• Sound scavenger hunts
• Syllable clapping games
• Beginning sound sorting
• Silly sound substitution

Social Preparation

Group Skills Practice

• Library story time
• Group classes (music, art, sports)
• Playdates with structure
• Turn-taking games
• Community activities

Classroom Behavior Rehearsal

• Practice raising hands
• Waiting for turns
• Circle time at home
• Following group instructions
• Clean-up routines

Red Flags Requiring Attention

Seek evaluation if your child:

Language Concerns

• Doesn't follow simple directions
• Speaks in 2-3 word phrases only
• Has very limited vocabulary
• Can't answer simple questions
• Doesn't engage in pretend play

Speech Issues

• Is understood less than 75% by strangers
• Shows frustration when speaking
• Avoids talking situations
• Has persistent stuttering
• Demonstrates unusual voice quality

Social Communication Challenges

• Lacks interest in other children
• Doesn't respond to name consistently
• Avoids eye contact
• Has difficulty with changes
• Shows limited emotional expression

Pre-Academic Struggles

• Shows no interest in books
• Can't recognize any letters
• Doesn't understand rhyming
• Unable to follow classroom routines
• Has difficulty with fine motor tasks

Supporting Children with Communication Differences

Creating Success

• Inform teachers about communication needs
• Practice school vocabulary at home
• Visit school before starting
• Role-play classroom scenarios
• Build confidence through preparation

Advocacy Strategies

• Request speech-language evaluation
• Explore IEP or 504 plan options
• Communicate with school team
• Provide home practice materials
• Celebrate progress and effort

Preparing for the School Environment

Classroom Language

Teach specific phrases:

• "May I please..."
• "I need help with..."
• "I don't understand"
• "Can you repeat that?"
• "May I use the bathroom?"

Self-Advocacy Skills

Help children:

• Express needs appropriately
• Ask for clarification
• Request breaks when needed
• Communicate discomfort
• Seek help from adults

Environmental Preparation

• Visit school playground
• Practice cafeteria routine
• Tour school building
• Meet teachers if possible
• Attend orientation events

Summer Before Kindergarten

Intensive Preparation

The summer before school offers opportunity for focused skill building:

Week-by-Week Focus

• Week 1-2: Following directions
• Week 3-4: Storytelling and sequencing
• Week 5-6: Phonological awareness
• Week 7-8: Social communication
• Week 9-10: Classroom routines
• Week 11-12: Integration and review

Reading Readiness

• Daily reading time
• Library summer programs
• Letter of the week activities
• Environmental print hunts
• Writing practice in sand/shaving cream

Social Opportunities

• Park playdates
• Summer camps
• Swimming lessons
• Community events
• Peer interaction practice

Working with Professionals

When to Seek Help

• Spring before kindergarten for concerns
• Earlier for significant delays
• When preschool teachers express concern
• If child shows frustration
• For peace of mind evaluation

Types of Support

• Speech-language evaluation
• Occupational therapy assessment
• Developmental pediatrician consultation
• Early intervention services
• Private therapy options

Technology and Screen Time

Educational Apps

Choose apps that:

• Promote interaction
• Build vocabulary
• Practice following directions
• Develop phonological awareness
• Encourage creativity

Balanced Approach

• Limit passive viewing
• Co-view and discuss content
• Choose educational programming
• Use as supplement, not replacement
• Maintain real-world interaction focus

Building Confidence

Emotional Readiness

Communication confidence involves:

• Feeling heard and understood
• Knowing it's okay to make mistakes
• Having strategies for difficulty
• Feeling prepared for challenges
• Trusting ability to learn

Positive Messaging

• Focus on strengths
• Celebrate effort over perfection
• Share excitement about school
• Normalize nervousness
• Build anticipation for learning

Conclusion

School readiness extends far beyond academic knowledge—strong communication skills form the foundation for learning, friendship, and classroom success. By understanding essential communication milestones and actively supporting their development, parents can help children enter kindergarten with confidence.

Remember that children develop at different rates, and starting kindergarten doesn't require perfection. Focus on progress, celebrate strengths, and address concerns proactively. With thoughtful preparation, practice, and support, you can help your child develop the communication skills needed not just to survive kindergarten, but to thrive in their educational journey.

Whether your child is right on track or needs extra support, the key is creating positive communication experiences that build skills and confidence. School success starts with being able to listen, understand, express, and connect—skills that you can nurture every day through meaningful interaction and purposeful play.