This, Kirsty says, is what underpins every other facet of a kindergarten child's development – and school readiness.
"We want them to be able to stand in a line and walk in a line, for instance, because we know that is something they will need to do at school.
"Dressing and undressing, putting on shoes, putting on sunscreen, doing up jumpers, remembering their hats – all are basic skills which make a big difference when they get to school.
"We encourage them to make sure they know where their belongings are and that they take responsibility for those things.
"Little things like encouraging them to bring a water bottle and packed lunch and sitting down with that at meal and snack times is another way of familiarising them with what is to be expected.
"By the time they are nearing the end of kindergarten, children should be able to do a fair amount for themselves.
"That sense of autonomy in children, and the resilience that comes with it, gives them the confidence to take that next big step."
Educationally, there is a significant shift toward autonomous self-guided play and educators work with children to identify learning opportunities from that play.
"We are actively encouraging preschool kids to go off and explore more, to try more things.
"There is a new level of risk taking at this age, with the child understanding they can try and they can take those risks, but knowing they are in a safe and controlled environment.
"All of this is confidence building and resilience building and that's what makes it so meaningful.
"We have a chance to harness those first stages of cognitive brain development where children are starting to grow their ability to think more strategically and focus on the execution of tasks.
"They are starting to think laterally, and consider concepts which might be outside the box in their problem solving.
"And with that, nurturing that new ability and working to strengthen it, the child has a real sense of ownership over their learning and where that is taking them."
Kirsty says the most important tools parents and educators can equip their kindergarten children with are those which build confidence and resilience.
"These children are about to take a big step in their lives. Making sure they know what that step is, and a little about what it means, and celebrating the significance of it will give them the kind of confidence which they will draw upon and come back to at every new stage of their lives."