By MONIQUE KOERNERK-State Research and Extension
As backpacks are packed and school buses begin rolling, families across Kansas are preparing their children for another school year. While many are excited to return to the classroom, it’s also a great time to remember that school readiness begins long before a child walks through the doors of kindergarten.
The skills children need to succeed in school start developing from the day they are born. During the first five years of life, a child’s brain grows at an incredible pace, forming millions of connections that support language, learning, memory, and emotional development. Every conversation, bedtime story, song, and playful interaction helps build the foundation for future academic success.
Parents and caregivers are the first and most influential teachers. The good news is that preparing young children for school doesn’t require expensive educational toys or structured lessons. Some of the most meaningful learning happens during everyday routines.
Reading together is one of the best ways to prepare children for school. Whether it’s a favorite bedtime story or a picture book borrowed from the library, reading introduces children to new vocabulary, strengthens listening skills, and encourages curiosity. But even more than that, it can lay the foundation for social-emotional development, which is the basis for all learning.
Creating attachment and learning about feelings can all happen while enjoying a book together.
As children head back to school—or prepare for the first classroom experience—families also face another important challenge: balancing technology with real-world interactions. Phones, tablets, television, and other digital devices are part of everyday life, but too much screen time can replace the face-to-face experience that young brains need most, especially for social-emotional development!
Excessive screen time, particularly when it replaces face-to-face interactions with caregivers, has been associated with delays in language development, reduced attention, and fewer opportunities to build the social and communication skills that support healthy development.
Children learn best through responsive interactions with caring adults. Reading together, playing games, building with blocks, and having conversations stimulate brain development in ways that
Passive screen viewing cannot. Creating screen-free times during meals, before bedtime, and while reading helps families make the most of the valuable moments.
Adults also play an important role in modeling healthy technology habits. Setting phones aside during family time shows children that conversations and relationships matter. These shared experiences help children develop attention, communication, and social skills that support learning and emotional well-being.
This back-to-school season, consider making reading together part of your family’s daily routine. Just 15-20 minutes each day can help strengthen your child’s love of learning and create memories. It’s never too early to build strong literacy skills. The road to school success begins at home!
Learn more with K-State Fact Sheets: Early Literacy: Building the Foundation for Lifelong Learning
Healthy Connections: The Developing Brain Meets the Digital World