Guest blog by Celeste Poulin, Child & Family Life Doula, Simply Family Solutions, Burlington - August 2026
September has a way of turning our thoughts toward what comes next. As summer fades and a new season begins, the return of school all around us can naturally make us wonder about our own children and the years ahead.
Even when school is still a little way off, we may find ourselves asking: Will my child be ready when the time comes? And usually, we look at what our children know academically. Do they know their ABCs? Can they count? Recognize colours? Write their name?
Those things have a place. But when we think about what actually happens when a child walks into a classroom, school readiness starts to look a little different. This is often where I invite parents to pause. Instead of asking, “What does my child need to know?” I ask, “What does my child need to be able to do?”
Let's explore what else helps children feel ready to learn when they enter school.
They need to listen when someone else is talking. They need to wait, follow along with a group, shift from one activity to another and manage all the feelings that come with doing something new. They need to feel comfortable enough to participate, connect with others and have the confidence to try.
Those are school-readiness skills too.
So how do we support our children in developing these skills before the first day? We provide consistent opportunities for them to practice. These skills develop through the experiences children have every day, long before they ever walk into a classroom. This is where music can play such an important role.
Harvard's Center on the Developing Child explains that executive function and self-regulation skills aren't something we're simply born with; they develop through “interactions and practice.” Music gives children a reason to practice without feeling like they’re being taught.
So, what are children actually practising when they take part in musical experiences? Let's take a closer look.
Listening
A song changes. A rhythm repeats. A familiar line is coming. Maybe you've noticed your child suddenly stop playing to listen, or jump in to sing the part they know is coming. They're no longer just hearing the music; they're listening for what comes next. Predictability and routine help children feel secure and confident, giving them the freedom to join in, explore and try.
Being Part of a Group
Sometimes you get a turn. Sometimes you wait. Sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow. When we make Music Together® or participate in a music class, children are practising how to be part of something bigger than themselves—listening to others, sharing space, noticing what others are doing and finding their place within the group.
These are important skills for feeling comfortable and confident in a classroom.
Regulation
And while they're doing all of this, children are also learning how to manage themselves within the experience: waiting, shifting from one activity to another, managing excitement and staying with the group.
Think about a simple freeze dance. The music is playing. Your child is moving. Then it stops. They freeze. They're practising stopping their body, shifting gears and responding to a cue, even when they're excited and having fun.
And regulation begins with something very simple: their body. Before children learn to navigate a classroom, hold a pencil or play an instrument, they're learning to understand their own bodies. “Your body is your primary instrument.” - TipToe Music
Music and movement give children a chance to explore that instrument, moving fast and slow, stopping and starting, clapping, stomping and responding to rhythm. They're learning where their body is, what it can do, and how to make it respond.
These kinds of skills don't need to be taught through a separate lesson. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) emphasizes that play gives children meaningful opportunities to practise emerging skills, including self-regulation, social skills and problem-solving.
And that brings us to something I come back to often in my work with families: look at what is already happening in your day.
Look for the Moments You Already Have
A stop-and-go song on the way to the car. A rhythm to copy while waiting for dinner. A silly song while getting dressed. Clapping along while you clean up. A familiar song you sing together.
Sometimes we don't realize how much our children are learning in the moments we think of as ordinary. These moments don't have to become lessons.
The moment is the opportunity. Music simply makes it playful.
And that's perhaps the heart of school readiness: not teaching children everything before they arrive, but giving them opportunities to listen, participate, regulate, connect and try along the way.
Sometimes, the best preparation for school is already happening in your day. You just have to notice it.
See you next time!
Celeste
Follow along on Instagram for more thoughts on music, parenting, and raising confident little humans.
About Celeste Poulin
Celeste Poulin is a child and family life doula and parenting expert who helps families build connected, confident relationships with their children. She combines research-informed strategies with practical guidance to support curiosity, independence, and healthy development.
Find out more at www.simplyfamilysolutions.com
References
Harvard's Center on the Developing Child - developingchild.harvard.edu
The National Association for the Education of Young Children - https://www.naeyc.org/node/3796
