Preparing your child for starting school
The prospect of starting the school journey can be a nervous, exciting and daunting time for a Prep student, and we often get asked about ways in which parents can best prepare their child for this new milestone.
Kindergartens invest a lot of time in the final year to develop student’s independence and confidence, however there are many things you can do at home to aid your child in having a smooth transition to school life.
Independence
It is of paramount importance to develop and encourage your child’s independence. In a school environment, students are expected to care and manage their own belongings, dress themselves and carry and unpack their own bags.
Some ways you can develop independence at home include:
Encouraging your child to practise opening and closing plastic containers/lunch boxes (particularly thermos flasks as these are popular to bring hot food to school).
Encouraging your child to apply their own sunscreen. Unlike kindergarten, at school students are expected to apply their own sunscreen at recess and lunch as they feel it is needed.
Encouraging your child to wear their school bag around the house (place different items inside as some days at school your child will be carrying a bag with library books inside).
Encouraging your child to get themselves dressed or undressed independently (often school jumpers are a challenge). If your child’s school offers a swimming program, practising to take on and off bathers is a key.
Encouraging your child to put on and off their own shoes (velcro shoes are highly encouraged for Prep).
Ensuring your child can independently toilet themselves.
Fine Motor Development
With the introduction of iPads, students are spending more time in front of screens and with Covid impacting kindergarten attendance, we have noticed a decline in fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are required in so many different everyday activities at school. Some activities which develop this area include:
Using a spray bottle to spray indoor/outdoor plants.
Using playdough to roll into sausages, knead, squeeze, pinch.
Buy some nuts and bolts and have your child practise screwing on and off the nut.
Using children’s chop sticks to transfer small items (such as craft pom poms) from one container to another.
Using scissors to cut along lines on paper (zig zag, curved, straight).
Using beads to thread bracelets, necklaces or making Hama Bead designs.
Peeling fruit or vegetables for cooking.
Using small spinning tops and using only the thumb, pointer and middle finger to spin the top.
The Royal Children’s Hospital has an informative Occupational Therapy fact sheet with many more activities for you to try at home.
Royal Children’s Hospital Occupation Therapy Fact Sheet
English
It is understood that reading and sharing stories together is not only a special time for parents but is invaluable for your child to develop their listening and reading skills. Listening to you model reading behaviours (such as expression and fluency) and discuss the vocabulary within a storybook are ways in which you can support your child’s development. Other ways you can prepare your child for starting school to support their English development include:
Phonemic awareness through games like ‘I Spy.’
Encouraging them to write their own name.
Sing songs together.
Hold extended conversations.
Say rhymes together.
Maths
There are many ways to include activities at home which will develop your child’s mathematical skills and prepare them for school. Activities include:
Cooking together: measure out items, count items (such as beans, peas).
Recognise numbers in your environment.
Go for a walk and talk about house numbers.
Use comparative language in conversations (bigger, smaller than).
Make patterns using items around the house (pasta, coloured pencils, coins).
Sing number songs.
Most students are excited about starting school. However, it is normal for students to feel apprehension and some anxiety. Some students will be wearing their uniform in the holidays and will bound into the classroom on the first day with little more than a dismissive wave to their parents. Others may need the teacher to assist in settling into this new environment. All students are different and with time and support will adapt to their new environment. In the lead up to Term 1, over the summer holidays, we strongly encourage:
Establishing a regular bedtime – school is exhausting!
Organising play dates if you have the contact details of peers which will be in your child’s class.
Talking positively about school and your experiences.
Commencing school is such an exciting milestone for any child and ultimately the goal is for your child to be happy, socially connected and learning. Adopting some of the above strategies can assist in developing a happy, confident and thriving Prep student.
If you would like to learn more about how Leap Street can help your child with school readiness please contact us or click here to view our programs.
