BY KAITLYN CAMILLERI
Teachers report that social and emotional skills are important for children to be able to be ready for school and ready to learn.
Skills such as self-control and following directions help children in the early ages have the confidence to do well in school.
The Health Department of Northwest Michigan and its Early Childhood Behavioral Health Initiative have some suggestions for parents.
To help prepare your child for preschool and kindergarten this fall, parents should encourage activities that require working together, and give choices to your child to make on their own.
Natalie Kasiborski is the Coordinator for the Early Childhood Behavioral Health Initiative in Northwest Michigan.
"Social and emotional skills are important to school readiness and some of those social skills are just as important as they're teaching those academics to facilitate a positive learning environment."
Kasiborski said the Early Childhood Behavioral Health Initiative also provides services to parents with children ages zero to five. These services help parents track the development of their child.