Set for Success

Set for Success: Building a Strong Foundation for School Readiness Based on the Social-Emotional Development of Young Children

The typical concept of readiness for kindergarten has been in terms of cognitive learning, but this post-conference report contains seven papers presenting the latest findings on the importance of social and emotional school readiness. These papers also provide compelling evidence of programs that help to prepare young children for early school success.

The report indicates that before children can learn to read, they must learn basic social and emotional skills such as the ability to tolerate frustration and take direction. Kindergarten teachers report that their single greatest challenge is that a majority of the children lack some or all of the needed social and emotional competencies needed to learn. With the current high level of enthusiasm for promoting school success, the report indicates that now is the time to build on the knowledge base. Set for Success recommends viewing social-emotional development and academic achievement as a continuum and not as separate entities; broadening this understanding to parents, teachers, caregivers, and policy makers; and providing training in this concept.

The report contains research into the issue of social and emotional development as a precursor for learning, as well as implications for practice and for policy.