School Readiness Begins with Well-Being for Children and Families

Health and mental health in the earliest years, including the health of a pregnant mother, lay the groundwork for a lifetime of well-being. Children are better prepared to learn, grow, and succeed when their basic needs are met and when families have access to supportive resources in their communities. 

      * Children with healthy teeth are better able to eat, speak, and focus on learning.

      * Good nutrition is essential for children's brain development, provides energy to learn, and helps the body grow.

      * Staying active benefits young children's physical and cognitive development. Moving activities build motor skills useful to reading, writing, and math skills.

      * When children get enough sleep, they can pay attention, remember what they learn, and manage their feelings.

      * When children use their senses to explore, it helps them learn about the world around them. A child's ability to see and hear affects their reading, writing, speech, and language development.

      * Children need positive relationships with adults who care for them. Early relationships shape children's learning and development. Responsive adults help children feel safe and valued.

      * Children who can manage their feelings are better able to learn, play with peers, plan, monitor and control their behaviors, and adjust to changes in schedules and routines.

      * Children who get along with adults learn to work together and follow rules. They can also show concern, share, take turns, and compromise with children.

      * When children play, they use their imagination and creativity. They also solve problems and learn to interact with others, which are skills that help them grow in all developmental areas.

When families are healthy, safe, and financially secure, they can better support their children's learning and development. Family well-being includes access to:

      * overall health, food security, and health care;  

      * safe and adequate housing, safe neighborhoods, and personal safety;

      * education, careers, employment supports, and financial security;

      * emergency assistance during times of crisis or hardship; and

      * community connections that reduce isolation and strengthen family stability.                                                                   

Access to Head Start locations, childcare, adult education and literacy programs, early childhood enrichment sites, Birth to Three, and the school district directories are available under Statewide Services.

The county resource lists include agencies, organizations, programs, and community places that support the overall well-being of children and families. These may include mental health services, medical and dental care, nutrition-related supports, child welfare, child protection services, economic assistance, emergency supports, and educational or enrichment opportunities.

 

Resources may also include places such as museums, libraries, science centers, nature areas, outdoor recreation opportunities, local chambers of commerce, city events, and other community activities. These are included because children and families benefit from places where they can learn, connect, play, explore, and build relationships within their communities.

 

These resources align with the South Dakota Early Learning Guidelines because they can support children’s development across multiple domains, including physical health and well-being, social and emotional development, communication and language, cognitive development, approaches to learning, and family and community engagement.

 

By identifying these resources county by county, families and programs can more easily connect with supports that promote healthy development, family stability, school readiness, and long-term well-being. This approach recognizes that school readiness begins long before kindergarten and is strengthened when children and families have access to safe, supportive, educational, and enriching community environments.