Helping to prepare your child for school

In just 10 weeks your 4-5 year old may be starting school. Regardless of what care your child has been receiving up until now this can be a huge change in their life and the easier you can make this the easier they will find it to settle in.

Some differences worth noting is that the classes are more formally set up then in nurseries or preschool’s and children are on a larger ratio so they will not receive the same attention as they would have received before. Both of these changes can mean that some children self esteem and confidence may suffer within the first few months. Here are some ideas which may help to get them ready for school.

1. Buy some school uniform early and hang it up with your child’s dressing up clothes this will give them the opportunity to get used to it through role play. You could even join in playing schools with them.

2. Ask the school to take pictures of s/he’s class room, play ground and community areas. These can be put into a laminated book to look at in the home and will allow your child to openly discuss starting school.

3. Libraries hold children’s reading book which cover the topic of starting school and these make a great read for nervous little ones.

4. Make sure you check if your child’s school will be holding visit opportunities for children to meet up and explore their class room. 

5. Ask the school if they would be happy to send out a letter with planned dates for parents to meet up in a local park in the six weeks holiday, this will also help the children to make friends in a less enclosed setting.

6. Ask the school what your child must know for when they start. In most schools this is simply how to do their shoes up and to be able to recognise their own name.