fun. Kindergarten teachers report that a child’s social and emotional “literacy”— the development of self-control, respect for others, a sense of confidence and competence—is vital for success in kindergarten. Without these skills, children are at a greater disadvantage in school.

Infants and toddlers get “ready” to go to school by doing the “work” of infants and toddlers.  Think about what your baby learns through experience:  when he’s held, loved and nuzzled, he learns to be confident and sees the world as a safe and welcoming place; when she’s talked to and sung to, she makes the connection between objects, sounds and feelings to oral language and develops the competence to then use her oral language to learn to read and write; when she spends time with other children, pets and “others” she learns self respect and respect for others.

Think about this:  your baby will only be a baby for 36 months; she’ll never be able to go back and redo her infancy. Spending time with, talking and singing to and allowing her to work on being an infant and toddler will ensure that she’ll be ready to be a preschooler who will be ready to go to school competent, confident and socially skilled.

Cindi Swernofsky is former director of Early Childhood Services for Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc., www.childcarenassau.org.