Research shows that children’s foundational knowledge at the beginning of school can have a lasting impact on their academic trajectory. As a provider, you can discuss with families ways that they can promote their child’s academic knowledge and explain that children learn best through everyday play and firsthand experiences. Keep reading for ways you can promote school readiness in the well child visit:

• Discuss the importance of building executive function skills. You can tell parents to try having children help with basic chores to practice listening and following directions.
• Use math talk by discussing quantities, shapes, and comparisons. You can ask questions directly to the child, like, “How much water do you drink every day – a little or a lot? What vegetables do you eat? Do you eat anything else that’s green?”
• Narrate throughout the exam using big words. You can say things like, “now I’m going to check your ears with my otoscope!”
• Praise parents for reading with their children and talking about sizes, shapes, and colors.

Reminder: If you are concerned about delays in development between the ages of 3 and 5, you may wish to refer them to their school district’s committee for preschool special education (CPSE) or to local Head Starts.

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