Our top tips fit neatly into four areas; physical, mental, social and emotional.
Your child being physically ready means having them able to dress themselves, in particular doing up and undoing buttons and putting on socks. It also means
them being able to go to the toilet themselves, and washing their hands effectively – they need to use soap, they need to rinse the soap off and dry their hands thoroughly. The latter two are so important in the winter months where their hands might become
chapped – soap residue and slightly damp hands in cold weather can make their hands sore. Practise with them how to blow their nose into a tissue, without help – this is
a surprisingly difficult skill for such little ones. Being physically ready also means being able to sit at a table and eat their meals using cutlery, although obviously this doesn’t have to be Queen’s-tea-party-perfect at only four-years-old! Give your child plenty of opportunities to run, climb and balance to hone their gross motor skills. Their fine motor skills will follow but you can encourage strength and agility in their hands and fingers further by giving them pegs to play with, children’s scissors to use, stickers to peel off, Lego, Play-Doh and bubble wrap to pop!
Being mentally ready starts with them being inquisitive and able to listen and remember things like songs and instructions. Play games with them like ‘Simon Says’
and scavenger hunts (‘Can you find something red/soft/a brush?’), sing songs with them and make up your own fun actions. Prioritise story time – make it special and enjoy it yourselves! Talk about the story – ask them how the characters are feeling and why they think that, ask them to predict what might happen next, relate it to their own lives. Use a wide range of vocabulary – if a child can remember and pronounce ‘Tyrannosaurus Rex’ then they can use the correct vocabulary and descriptive language for many other things!
To be socially ready for school isn’t just about them happily taking turns in line for the swing or the interactive whiteboard; it’s about taking turns when talking too. Listening to others while you wait for your turn to talk is such an important life-skill at which many adults fail! Basic manners such as saying ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ are crucial, as well as asking for help when they need it. Being able to calmly cope with, and even
resolve, disagreements is another fundamental skill.
Arguably the most important aspect of being prepared for school is your child being emotionally ready – being able to manage their feelings. Going from nursery, their child-minder or from you, to ‘Big School’ is a major step in their lives. Most children are extremely excited about this but many will be anxious about the change. Schools usually have settling-in sessions in the summer term before, to help with the transition. Here, the children will meet their new teacher, their new class friends and see their new classroom. In addition to this, you can encourage them to have time away from you and your home on days out with family members or friends – this will increase their confidence and resilience. Encourage them to have time apart from their favourite toy or blanket and, if your child still naps during the day, try to phase this out before school starts.
Begin to increase their independence and confidence by giving them a responsibility, such as setting the table or putting their own clothes away each evening. Talk with your child about how they are feeling about starting school. If you are feeling anxious or sad, try not to show it – children often mirror our own feelings. If they are feeling particularly anxious, try reading stories about starting school, arrange play-dates with their class friends over the summer and talk with their teacher – we want a positive start for them too!
We have a little tea party at school a few days ahead of the start of term in September to alleviate nerves, and you can gain many of the same benefits with a little familiarisation in those days – do the walk or drive to school, look at the school grounds, look at the classrooms and facilities on the school website and play ‘Schools’, with your child dressing in their uniform and school shoes with their teddies as their class friends.
I wish you all well with this new and exciting chapter in your lives. Keep smiling, stay positive and watch your child blossom at ‘Big School’!
For more information about Leweston's Pre-Prep contact Amanda Wilson, Prep Registrar, on 01963 211054 or admissions@leweston.dorset.sch.uk