What does the term "getting school ready" really mean? How does "success in school" happen? What is the role of a childcare provider? Is there a best way for children to learn? These are questions parents and providers are always trying to answer.

Children have two wonderful resources for learning: imagination and curiosity. Learning happens when parents and providers do simple activities with children - read and tell stories, play games, or sort colors. Success in school begins with loving and dependable care providers who offer children a variety of opportunities to learn.

Children need to feel good about themselves and believe they can succeed to learn. Confident children are more willing to attempt new tasks and try again if they don't succeed the first time. The ability to do things for themselves, the desire to want to learn, the ability to share and take turns, an understanding of appropriate/inappropriate behavior, an interest in others, and an understanding of how others feel, are all social emotional skills that promote "readiness to learn".

• Help children identify their feelings through reflection and acknowledgement.
• Model empathy and respect.
• Provide a safe and consistent environment.
• Respect individual cultures and families. Get to know the families in your program and include them in planning activities.
• Encourage curiosity and exploration with a variety of multi-sensory materials and activities.
• Show appreciation when children ask questions or show interest in the way things work.
• Allow children to make choices and do trial and error exploration.
• Support self-regulation when children face challenges with their self-control. Make sure the environment is not overstimulating and "out of control".
• Teach problem solving skills. Help children figure out their own solutions to social problems like sharing and taking turns.
• Approach discipline in a way that encourages skill building and the development of social awareness.
• Read and talk to the children in your care. Allow infants to "chew" on and handle soft books when you read to them. Practice interactive reading, tell stories, and encourage pretend play. Talk with children from infancy on, expanding word descriptions and vocabulary.
• Set a good example. Keep a positive attitude toward learning. Share your own enthusiasm for learning with children.

Examples of infant activities