Getting Ready for School

School readiness isn’t simply about recognizing letters, counting, and learning to sit in a circle. Getting a child ready for school also involves promoting a secure attachment to parents and other adults, building self-confidence and exerting self-control.¹ These are crucial components of parenting a young child that have life-long implications.

When Diego was 20 months old, his mother Mary Bell found Any Baby Can through a chance encounter with a staff member. She was primarily concerned about his language delay since Diego could not say anything and barely made sounds. As a first-time mom, she didn’t know exactly where his milestones should be. She was receiving plenty of “parenting tips” from well-meaning grandparents and friends, which sometimes left her more confused. In addition to her and her husband’s busy jobs, Mary Bell is a dedicated parent who is always striving to make the best decisions for her child.

When Diego joined Any Baby Can's Parents as Teachers program, his whole family became a part of the team. They were matched with a parent educator, Angelica, who met with Diego and his grandmother every other week. His grandmother replicates the activities oustide of the visits, and buys educational materials at garage sales to support Diego's learning. She encourages Diego and praises him when he works hard to reach goals. His grandfather also attended some sessions, prompting Diego to listen and concentrate on the activities.

At the monthly group events and parent-child outings, Diego was always joined by his loving family including his mom, dad, grandmother or grandfather. It was during these group activities that Angelica noticed Diego’s behavior and difficulty engaging with other kids. He preferred to sit with the adults while the other children roamed the playground. He was shy and often had difficulty participating. When Angelica encouraged Mary Bell to seek speech and occupational therapy, mom arranged all of the appointments, his grandfather drove him to appointments and his grandmother kept Diego advancing at home. It was a true team effort!