Milton Understanding the Early Years
Tip Sheets

To help answer parents' questions about children's readiness to learn at school, and to give them fun, play-based ideas on how to strengthen these skills in their children, the Milton UEY created five Tip Sheets: One for each school-readiness domain.

Remember: If you are a parent, you are your child's first and best role model in life, and play is the best way for a child to learn. So get out there and have fun together! It will build your relationship and help ensure your child enjoys school and succeeds throughout life.  

To download your own UEY Tip Sheet, just click on any of the five images below.

To download a UEY Poster, click here or on the UEY Poster icon at the top of this webpage.

Communication and General Knowledge 

This is the ability to clearly communicate one's needs and to understand others, as well as an interest in the outside world. *

  

Emotional Maturity 

This is the ability to recognize and express both positive and negative emotions in ways that are healthy, respectful, and appropriate to the situation. It is also empathy and the willingness to help and comfort others. *  

  

Language and Cognitive Development

This includes word and number recognition, counting and memory, as well as advanced literacy such as reading and writing. *

  

Physical Health and Well-Being 

This is physical readiness for school (not arriving at school hungry), physical independence (well-coordinated movements), as well as gross motor (kick or throw a ball) and fine motor skills (able to handle crayons and pencils).  *

Social Competence 

This includes taking responsibility, showing respect, problem-solving, adjusting to routines, positive work habits, and the readiness to explore new things like books, toys and games. *

Special Thanks

The following individuals greatly helped in the creation of these Tip Sheets by contributing their favourite tried-and-true parent-child activities and book recommendations:

Sue Brathwaite, parent educator at the Milton Community Resource Centre

Danielle Lalonde, parent educator at the Milton Community Resource Centre

Stephanie Houghton, supervisor at Margaret Drive Child Care Centre

Ingrid Cole, family visitor with Halton Region's Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program

Janis Marshall, children's librarian at the Milton Public Library

* These definitions are based on the Early Development Instrument (EDI), which is used in Senior Kindergarten classes across Ontario to measure the readiness to learn of kindergarten students.

The Understanding the Early Years initiative is funded by Human Resources and Social Development Canada. For further information, visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca