Ready to read.

Point out signs to your child: stop signs, exit signs, store signs. You'll help him see that words are everywhere. Show your child pictures in magazines. Looking at pictures and talking about them is a beginning step in learning to read. Pictures stand for ideas, just like words do. Cuddle with your child when you read a book. Then when she picks up a book later on, those warm feelings will come back.

Ready to make friends.

When your child has a friend over for the first time, make it a short visit and include a snack or meal. Encourage cooperation by having them make sandwiches or play restaurant.
Even good friends fight now and then. Help the children work together to find a good solution. Your support will help your child learn how to compromise. Let your child know about a time when you and a friend had a problem. Talk about how you worked it out.

Ready to use numbers.

At mealtime, ask your child to put out napkins or forks for each person. It will give him practice working with numbers. Sing songs with numbers like "This old man, he played one…" Songs are a fun way to help children learn numbers. Let your child play with a deck of cards. Sorting them by colors or numbers will help her develop skills that are important for learning math.

Ready to express feelings.

Let your child know that all feelings are okay, but not all actions are okay. For example, it's okay to be upset or angry, but it's not okay to hit someone. Help your child use words like "mad" or "frustrated" or "scared" or "sad" or "disappointed." Naming their feelings helps children feel more in control—and better able to control themselves. Be a role model. Your child learns a great deal from watching the way you handle your feelings and your interactions with others.

Ready to wonder.

Go for a walk. Let your child touch trees, smell flowers, listen to birds and feel different textures and shapes. That's how kids explore—with their hands, nose, eyes and ears.Give your child water and a big paintbrush or sponge to "paint" the sidewalk or an outside wall. It's a fun way to see how the heat of the sun changes things by making them warm and evaporating water.Find safe ways to involve your child when you cook, vacuum or change batteries. Ordinary household machines can be fascinating to children—and they like to feel helpful.

Ready to try.

Praise your child for trying, even if he doesn't succeed. The important thing is trying. And your encouragement may help him try harder the next time. Remind your child of other times when she kept on trying—and was able to do something that was hard at first—and all the ways she has grown. Help your child understand that making mistakes is part of learning. Let him see that you make mistakes, too—and that you learn from them.

Ready to write.

Give your child a pencil, crayons or markers and scissors for making pictures. Drawing and scribbling are the beginning of writing. When your child makes a picture, write down what he says about it. Then "read" the words together. Let your child see that you write shopping lists, "to do" lists, phone messages and directions. It lets children know that writing is important in everyday life.

Ready to listen.

Play games that encourage your child to listen carefully such as "Simon Sez" or "Red Light, Green Light." At mealtime, help your child learn how to take turns talking and listening. Ask questions like, "What was the best thing in everyone's day?" Let her know it's important to listen when others are talking. Take your child to story time at the library. And read, read, read to or with him. Following a story helps children practice listening skills.

Ready to pretend.

Give your child simple dress-up things such as an old purse, hat or shoes—a towel for a cape, a box for, well, whatever.
Try to give your child enough time for pretend play. Children need time to plan their play, to negotiate roles with each other, to choose or make props and to carry out their ideas. Use containers to store things for pretending. That way, children can easily find them—and put them away.

Ready to share.

Suggest activities that encourage sharing like making a big mural or a long paper chain. Not all toys lend themselves to sharing. When your child is having friends over, put out puzzles, books, musical instruments, cars, blocks, puppets, stuffed animals or dress-up clothes—all of which can make sharing easier. When your child does share, be sure to notice it. It can help her be more likely to share next time. Children want to do things that please others.

Ready to learn.

Nurturing, supportive and consistent relationships early in life wire the brain for learning and loving. The more language children hear, the greater their vocabulary. When the hands are active, the brain is more engaged. Building with blocks, drawing and painting, fitting puzzles together and acting out an experience actually activate the brain.