Starting school is a big step—not just for children, but also for parents. Many wonder in the months leading up to it: Is my child ready for school? Can they concentrate long enough? Do they need to be able to read or do math already?
The good news: For a successful start to school, certain skills are often more important than having a lot of knowledge. No child needs to be able to read, write, or do math before starting school. What matters more is whether they are increasingly able to meet the demands of the school day.
What does school readiness mean today?
The term school readiness is increasingly being replaced by school capability. This is because children develop differently and bring a variety of strengths.
The school does not expect a perfect child. What is more important is that basic skills are present that make learning easier and help manage the school day well.
Skills that ease the start of school
Many children already have many of these skills when they start school.
Independence in daily life
It is helpful if your child can:
- dress and undress themselves mostly independently
- use the toilet on their own
- eat with utensils
- take on small tasks independently
- take responsibility for simple things, like carrying their backpack or hanging up their coat
Perfection is not important here. It's about your child being able to do more and more on their own.
Language and communication
For starting school, it is helpful if your child can:
- speak clearly
- tell simple stories
- ask and answer questions
- understand multi-step instructions
- express themselves verbally when problems arise
Children do not need to have a large vocabulary or perfect grammar.
Concentration and endurance
Many preschoolers can already:
- focus on a task for 15 to 20 minutes
- play simple games to the end
- handle short waiting times
- return to a task after an interruption
Again, not every day will be the same.
Social skills
Social skills play a big role in the school day.
It is helpful if your child can:
- play with other children
- generally accept rules
- increasingly resolve conflicts verbally
- share and take turns
- accept or offer help
These skills often continue to develop well beyond the start of school.
Emotional development
Starting school is often easier if your child can:
- handle small disappointments
- calm down after excitement
- separate from familiar caregivers for a few hours
- approach new things with curiosity
Feeling uncertain or excited before starting school is completely normal.
Does my child need to know how to read or do math?
No. Many parents already practice letters or math intensively. However, this is not crucial for a successful start to school.
It's more helpful if your child:
- Develops a love for books
- Listens to stories
- Asks questions
- Discovers quantities in everyday life
- Enjoys drawing, building, or experimenting
Curiosity is often the best foundation for successful learning.
What you can encourage at home
Children often learn more in everyday life than through targeted practice.
Particularly helpful activities include:
- Reading together
- Playing board and card games
- Drawing, crafting, and cutting
- Counting, sorting, or comparing together
- Taking on small household tasks
- Allowing plenty of time for free play
It's not about performance, but about fostering confidence and independence.
When should you take a closer look?
Not every child develops at the same pace. Sometimes, an additional assessment before starting school can be helpful.
Talk to your pediatrician if your child:
- Has difficulty using language understandably
- Hardly understands simple instructions
- Struggles to separate from caregivers
- Shows significant difficulties with attention or impulse control in everyday life
- Has noticeable motor skill issues
- Seems overall very overwhelmed or if you're concerned about their development
Kindergarten teachers can also often provide a good assessment of how your child might handle the transition to school.
Every child has their own path
Many families compare themselves to each other just before starting school. This can quickly lead to insecurity.
But children develop differently. Some are particularly advanced in language, others in motor skills or social skills. For a successful start to school, it's not important to be ahead in everything – but to begin this new phase of life with joy, curiosity, and enough self-confidence.
Guidance for starting school
Starting school is not a test that children must pass. More important than early reading or math skills are independence, social skills, language comprehension, and the joy of learning. If your child is increasingly managing their daily life independently and is curious about new things, they already have many important prerequisites for a good start to school.
