Children do not need to have specific knowledge or skills to begin school. But it is helpful if they are able to:

• share and know how to take turns

• cooperate and play well with others

• listen and pay attention for short periods of time

• speak and ask for what they need

• recognize their own names in writing

• help out and put away classroom materials and toys after activity time

• dress and undress themselves

• use the toilet independently and clean themselves

• play by themselves with toys for a period of time without needing adult attention

• be away from their caregivers and parents and understand that parents will come back.