There has been an explosion of knowledge over the last few years about how children's earliest experiences set the stage for success in learning to read and write. Most experts agree that children who reach kindergarten with certain characteristics--an interest in books, a fondness for conversation, a curiosity about the world--are more likely to thrive in school and have productive and happy lives. Today, the term "school readiness" is used to refer to the bundle of knowledge, skills and motivational behaviors that are associated with children's successful entry into school. These skills include oral language and vocabulary development, phonological and phonemic development, knowledge of the alphabet, and an understanding that print goes from left to right and from up to down on a page.