When parents think about getting their child ready for school, they often focus on practical milestones like buying uniforms, packing lunchboxes, practising the morning routine, or learning letters and numbers.

While these things are important, there’s another skill that plays a huge role in helping children thrive at school, and it’s often overlooked: communication skills.

For children with developmental delays, strong communication skills can make a significant difference to how they learn, interact with others, manage classroom expectations and build confidence.

Communication is about much more than talking. It helps children understand instructions, express their needs, join in play, answer questions, solve problems and develop friendships.

The good news is that these skills can be developed and strengthened, and support is available when needed.

What Is Communication and Why Is It So Important for School Readiness?

Communication is one of the most important school readiness skills.

Children use communication skills every day at school to:

• Follow teacher instructions
• Participate in classroom discussions
• Ask questions
• Share ideas and experiences
• Build friendships
• Solve problems
• Understand new concepts
• Express emotions and needs

When communication skills are strong, children often find it easier to learn, connect with others and participate confidently in school life.

This is particularly important for children who may have a developmental delay, communication difficulty or challenges with social interaction.

Parents often ask:

• Is my child ready for school?
• What communication skills does my child need before starting school?
• Can speech therapy help prepare my child for school?

These are common questions for families preparing for the transition to school. While every child develops at their own pace, communication skills are one of the key foundations of school readiness.

Speech therapy can support many of the communication skills children need for school, including understanding language, expressing themselves, interacting with others and developing early literacy skills. Early support can help children build confidence and strengthen the skills they need to succeed.

Communication Skills That Support School Success

Many people think Speech Pathologists only help children pronounce words correctly.

In reality, Speech Pathologists support a wide range of communication and language skills that contribute to learning, social development and school participation. Learn more about Early Start Australia’s Speech Pathology services.

Understanding Language (Receptive Language)

Receptive language is a child’s ability to understand what other people are saying.

Children rely on receptive language to:

• Follow instructions
• Understand classroom routines
• Learn new concepts
• Answer questions
• Understand stories
• Participate in group activities

Examples include:

• “Put your lunchbox in your bag.”
• “Pack away your pencils and sit on the mat.”
• “Circle the biggest animal on the page.”

If a child struggles to understand language, they may appear distracted, confused or reluctant to participate, when the real challenge is understanding what is expected.

Using Language (Expressive Language)

Expressive language refers to how children communicate their thoughts, ideas, feelings and experiences to others.

Strong expressive language skills help children:

• Ask questions
• Tell stories
• Explain ideas
• Describe events
• Share experiences
• Join conversations

Children use expressive language throughout the school day. For example, they may need to:

• Tell a teacher they need help
• Explain what happened at lunchtime
• Participate in classroom discussions
• Answer questions about learning activities

Developing expressive language skills can improve both learning and confidence.

Social Communication Skills

Starting school isn’t just an academic milestone. It’s also a social one.

Children need social communication skills to successfully interact with teachers and peers.

These skills help children:

• Take turns in conversations
• Stay on topic
• Listen to others
• Understand social cues
• Join group activities
• Build friendships
• Understand different perspectives

For some children with developmental delays, social communication can be particularly challenging. Building these skills before school starts can help children feel more confident and connected when they enter the classroom.

Speech Clarity and Being Understood

Being understood by others is important for both learning and social participation.

Children who are difficult to understand may become frustrated when people can’t understand what they are trying to say.

Speech Pathologists can support children who have difficulties with:

• Speech sounds
• Pronunciation
• Clarity of speech (ability to be understood by others when they speak)

Improving speech clarity can help children communicate more confidently with teachers, family members and peers.

Early Literacy Skills and Learning to Read

Communication development and literacy development go hand in hand.

Early literacy skills help lay the foundations for reading and writing success.

These skills include:

• Recognising sounds in words
• Learning letters and their sounds
• Listening to stories
• Understanding books
• Developing vocabulary
• Understanding how words work

Strong early literacy skills support a smoother transition into formal classroom learning.

Signs Your Child May Benefit from Additional Support

Every child develops at their own pace.

However, parents may wish to seek advice if their child:

• Has difficulty following instructions
• Uses fewer words or shorter sentences than expected
• Is difficult for unfamiliar people to understand
• Struggles to answer questions
• Finds it difficult to tell stories
• Has trouble staying on topic in conversations
• Has difficulty making friends
• Avoids group activities
• Shows limited interest in books and storytelling
• Has a diagnosed or suspected developmental delay

Seeking support early doesn’t mean something is wrong. Early intervention helps children build confidence, communication skills and independence before challenges become barriers to learning.

How to Build Communication Skills at Home

One of the most encouraging things for parents is that communication development doesn’t require expensive resources or complicated programs.

Many of the most effective opportunities happen during everyday activities.

Read Together Every Day

Reading together is one of the most powerful ways to support language development and school readiness.

When reading with your child:

• Talk about pictures
• Ask simple questions
• Predict what might happen next
• Discuss characters
• Explain new words

These conversations help build vocabulary, comprehension and storytelling skills.

Encourage Pretend Play

Pretend play creates natural opportunities for communication.

Whether your child is:

• Running a pretend shop
• Playing schools
• Looking after dolls
• Driving toy cars

They are practising conversations, problem-solving and storytelling skills. Play is one of the most effective ways children learn.

Play Language Games

Simple games such as:

• I Spy
• Guess Who
• Categories
• Simon Says

help children develop vocabulary, listening skills and understanding of instructions.

Use Everyday Conversations

Many communication-building opportunities happen naturally throughout the day. During these conversations, try commenting rather than asking questions.

Talk about:

• What happened at childcare or kindergarten
• Weekend plans
• Cooking dinner together
• Shopping trips
• Favourite activities

Simple conversations help children expand their vocabulary, improve comprehension and learn to express themselves clearly.

Try Barrier Games

Barrier games encourage children to practise both listening and speaking.

Examples include:

• Describing where objects should be placed
• Giving directions to build something
• Explaining how to draw a picture

These activities support:

• Listening skills
• Following directions
• Expressive language
• Problem-solving
• Social communication

How Early Intervention Supports School Readiness

Communication is only one part of school readiness.

Children may also benefit from support in areas such as:

• Fine motor skills
• Emotional regulation
• Social skills
• Gross motor skills
• Sensory processing
• Independence and self-care skills

At Early Start Australia, our multidisciplinary team works together to support children’s development and school readiness goals.

Services include:

• Speech Pathology
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Psychology

When Should Parents Seek Support?

Parents know their child best.

If you have concerns about your child’s:

• Communication skills
• Language development
• School readiness
• Social skills
• Emotional wellbeing
• Developmental milestones

Seeking advice early can provide reassurance, practical strategies and access to support if needed.

Early support can help children build the skills, confidence and resilience they need to thrive at school and beyond.

At Early Start Australia, our Speech Pathologists work alongside Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Psychologists to help children develop the foundations for successful learning, participation and independence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn More About Early Start Australia

🔗 https://www.earlystartaustralia.com.au/

Find Your Nearest Clinic

🔗 https://www.earlystartaustralia.com.au/locations/