Exploring Children’s School Readiness in the COVID-19 Era: Teacher and Parent Views

Teacher and Parent Views on Children’s School Readiness

Abstract

One of the concerns within the pandemic crisis is the issue of school readiness. With the closure of schools, children were deprived of the opportunities necessary for their development and learning, which are important for school readiness. The current mixed-method study explored the views of teachers and parents about the effects of COVID-19 on school readiness through semi-structured interviews and the Metropolitan School Readiness Test for children. Quantitative findings suggested that most children needed to be supported in terms of school readiness. According to the qualitative results gained from parents and teachers, children’s various developmental areas, mainly socio-emotional and physical, were affected adversely. In addition, both agents have some mutual expectations and have a series of expectations from politicians. As a result, this study can be considered crucially in comprehending the long-term impact of COVID-19 on children's school readiness and informing stakeholders by highlighting the views of parents and teachers.