Book Review: Ready, Set, Go?

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One of the biggest steps a child takes is donning that backpack and heading off to school. It’s not just academics each child needs to face – it’s social skills and awareness, the ability to focus and delineate, accomplished physical and spatial skills, self-confidence and readiness to ‘leave the nest’, among many other factors.

School-readiness is uniquely different as each child poised to embark on this life-changing journey, and this pocket-sized book by leading education and parent consultant Kathy Walker is ideal for helping unscramble the psycological and physical morass surrounding The Right Time. It does more than put mum and dad’s mind at ease about sending tots off to school. It helps (most vitally) bring the focus back to the children in question – and in a society where standards are often set by ‘age’, it’s heart-warming to read a book that goes beyond the ‘norm’ and treats each child as an individual.

The book is divided into helpful chapters, beginning with an explanation on why school readiness is so vital – and how important it is to ensure children flourish and thrive, not just ‘cope’. Walker puts all these observations into an Australian contect, and also clearly explains exactly what children will need to be ‘ready’ for.

School readiness is defined from an educator’s perspective, including an outline of what will be learned in a child’s first year at school. The author also discussses age, gender, their place in the family and the issue of personality over maturity. A readiness checklist is provided, along with signs that your child may or may not be ready.

There is an informative chapter on how schools work in Australia, the types of schools we enjoy and classroom structures, helping to make school choice easier and better suited to your child’s capabilities, personality and learning style, as well as your family’s ideals and values. Walker also covers key questions, case studies, possible scenarios, practicalities and decision-making, along with a chapter on preparing for your child and family for school, transition programs, and even tips on what to do in the month leading up to school and what to do on the first day and during first term.

FAQs round out a concise yet balanced book that would become an invaluable resource to ensuring children have the best possible start to their education.

Title: Ready, Set, Go?
Author: Kathy Walker
Category: Non-Fiction
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 9780143565420
RRP: $19.95
Publication Date: 30 May 2011