Talking with your child about starting school – What do they think it will be like? What are they looking forward to doing there? Do they have any questions or worries? – talking about school in a relaxed way so that your child can start to process the move from preschool to school.
Practicing the school run during the summer holidays, this helps children to become familiar with the travelling to and from school.
Getting them to try on their new school uniform to help them feel comfortable in their new clothes, they may experience sensitivity to some fabrics or fastenings
Boosting their self-confidence, ability to make their own choices, get along with others and other useful skills by:
Using a visual timetable – Many schools use visual timetables to help children get used to their new routines. Using a visual timetable at home can also be a great way to support their independence.
Helping them take responsibility for belongings and work together – Trying to tidy up together and make it part of any activity you do. In the classroom children will be expected to start talking responsibility for their belongings and working together to keep the classroom a nice place to be.
Promoting independence – Letting your child practice dressing themselves, can they do up a zip or buttons? Can they put on their own socks?
Encouraging curiousity – ask questions about the world around you and they will start to do the same
Helping them practice how to stay calm – this could include taking slow, deep breaths together.
Letting them make mistakes – praise them for trying and help them learn from it by not always fixing it straight away
Helping them get on with others – playing turn taking games and ‘Acting out’ situations with toys. E.g. “how can teddy ask to play with the dolls?”
Practising sitting still and paying attention – look at books, crafts or puzzles without distractions
Encouraging them to use more words – instead of “did you like it?” ask “what did you like about it?” so they have to use different words
Staying active – running, jumping, climbing, catching, painting and sorting small objects will improve their control over their bodies.
Pre-empting any potential issues about using the toilet:
If your child is worried about managing their toileting or needing help then talk with them about it. Talk to them about who they could ask for help and talk to the teacher about your child’s worries and needs – it is much easier to help when you know what to look out for.
Get spare clothes ready to take to school if your child is not fully toilet trained
Teach your child to flush the toilet and get used to different types of flush
Chat about the importance of good hand washing
Pre-empting any potential issues about having lunch at school:
Practice using a knife and fork pouring water from a jug into a cup, opening a lunchbox and carrying a small plate of food. You can also encourage your child to try some new foods.
Using a knife and fork with playdough is a great way to practice cutlery skills.
Make sure that your child can open their lunchbox and manage the food inside
