Posted for the Governor's Office of Early Childhood:
The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood
believes that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. There is
no more important and amazing responsibility than to help your child grow
emotionally and socially. These so called “soft skills” are critical to their
future development and success; and research shows that emotional and social development
provides the foundation for how we feel about ourselves and how we experience
others. Please share this with your friends and neighbors with small children.
Our goal is to have every child in Kentucky; Ready to Grow, Ready to Learn and
ready to Succeed.
The Social/Emotional Standard is for a child to
demonstrate trust and engage in social relationships; and sense of self.
Your child’s feelings about themselves, as well as developing relationships
with others will be very helpful in all other areas of his/her development
10 “soft”
Skills of a Child who is Kindergarten Ready
Social and Emotional Development/
Approaches to Learning
1)
Is curious and initiates learning experiences; Persists in
activities and tasks
2)
Is learning to explore and try new things; Asks questions and
knows rules
3)
Is learning to work well alone and is learning to cooperate with
others children
4)
Can follow simple instructions and uses self control; can help
with simple chores
5)
Participates
and shows interest in creative activities; Uses a variety of materials
6) Expresses positive outlook; expresses needs and wants verbally
7) Cooperates and shows concern for others; gives help to others
8) Engages in symbolic / imaginative play with self or peers (plays
house, fireman)
9) Expresses curiosity and eagerness for learning (tries new
activities, asks questions)
10) Listens to adults and follows simple directions; Shows independence in self-help skills.
The
skills listed above are helpful for children to know before entering
Kindergarten. The indicators included represent the hopes and aspirations for
incoming students, not the expectations. Kentucky recognizes that children
develop and learn at different rates and times. Not every child will master all
of the skills and behaviors listed above prior to
Kindergarten. These skills and behaviors are not used to determine school
eligibility. In Kentucky, all children who meet the legal age requirement are entitled
to enter public school.
Professor James Heckman
on Early Childhood Investment and Socio Emotional “soft” Skills
“Such
early efforts promote schooling, reduce crime, foster workforce productivity
and reduce teenage pregnancy. They have rates of return to investment that are
higher than the return to investments in the stock market even in normal
times.”
“If a child is not motivated and engaged to learn early on in life, the more
likely it is that when the child becomes an adult, he or she will fail in
social and economic life.”
“In promoting successful lives, we need to recognize
the multiplicity of human abilities. Currently, public policy in most countries
around the world—and the U.S. is no exception—focuses on promoting and
measuring cognitive ability as measured by achievement tests. There is no
question that cognitive abilities are important determinants of socioeconomic
success. However, there is also decisive evidence that socio emotional
skills—physical and mental health, perseverance, attention, motivation, and
self-confidence—are as important in predicting success in life. In many tasks
in life, they are more important. There is hard evidence on the power of “soft”
skills. They contribute greatly to performance in society at large and in
workforce productivity.”
“Invest in prevention, not remediation.”
