For the child born late preterm, the preschool and kindergarten health supervision visits are an
important opportunity to inquire about
skills in
early reading and
math including letter and word recognition, letter sounds, number recognition, counting and recognition of colors and shapes, which are some foundational
skills for school readiness.
It is true for many subjects but most documented in mathematics as acquisition of
early math knowledge and
skills is the most
important predictor not only for later
math achievement but also for achievement in other content areas (Amy Claessens, The University of Chicago and Mimi Engel, Vanderbilt University, 2013).