Focus on emotional regulation and independence over academic drills for pre-school readiness

As the new school year approaches, experts emphasise the importance of children’s emotional regulation and self-care skills over rote academic knowledge, highlighting a shift in preparing children for primary school success.

As the new school year approaches, many parents fixate on whether their child can already recognise the alphabet or count to ten. But specialists say the more useful question is whether the child can cope with the everyday demands of the classroom: managing feelings, following simple rules and doing small tasks alone. Mircea Miclea, a psychologist and former education minister, has said the strongest predictor of later success in the early primary years is not how much a child already knows, but how well they can regulate emotions and work independently. He argues that academic basics can often be picked up quickly once school begins.

That independence starts with simple self-care. Children entering the preparatory year should be able to use the toilet on their own, manage their clothes and ask an adult for help when needed. In a class of 20 or 25 pupils, teachers cannot provide constant one-to-one support, so these skills help children avoid embarrassment and settle more confidently into the day.

Practical organisation matters too. A child should be able, at least in part, to dress and undress themselves, cope with buttons, zips or laces and recognise their own belongings. Knowing how to find a coat, bag or notebook by name may seem minor, but it helps children become less dependent on adults and more responsible for their things.

Equally important is the ability to communicate needs clearly. Children should be able to say when they are hungry, thirsty, unwell or confused about a task. Specialists recommend rehearsing this habit before term starts, because many children are used to adults anticipating their needs. Another key skill is following a simple instruction from an adult, such as putting away pencils or sitting at a desk, and completing it even if the task is not especially appealing.

For many families, the hardest adjustment is separation. A child may struggle with being away from a parent for several hours in an unfamiliar setting, and experts recommend practising short separations before school begins. A visit to grandparents or a morning with a friend can help. Guidance from the Iaşi county education and counselling centre warns that parents who repeatedly step in to shield a child from small challenges can unintentionally send the message that the child is unable to manage anything alone.

The most reassuring part for anxious parents is that reading and writing do not need to be mastered before the first day of preparatory class. That year is designed to build the foundations of literacy, not to assume they are already in place. According to the sources cited, the goal is less about producing a child who arrives knowing everything and more about sending one who is ready to learn, adapt and grow.