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Starting primary school is a really big deal - for the whole family! As parents it's possibly the first time our child will spend a time in someone else's care, or if they are used to going to a childminder it may be the first time your child has been in big groups of other children the same age.

Whatever the situation, it's a milestone. It's a big deal.  

Here are a few tips to help you prepare - and to prepare your child for what lies ahead.

• Talk - chat about it casually without making a big deal of it all. Remember to focus on the positives and to talk about happy memories from when you went to school
• Look at the school website - there will be lots of photos on the website and social media pages of children doing fun things and enjoying their day. This may ease your anxieties as much as your child's!
• Drive past the school or walk and have a look through the railings/over the fence. Talking about school is great but your child may not have any understanding of what a school looks like
• Read books about starting school - there are so many books that you can read together. Visit the library, you'll find a selection there
• Focus on the things they like - if your child is apprehensive, talk about the things you know they will enjoy. Remember, reception class is very play focused and there will be dressing up, role play, playing in the sand and water, lots of time playing outside and lots of toys.
• Friends - talk about how they will have lots of new friends to play with.
• Practise the new routine - getting up, dressed and having breakfast and then being out of the house in time for school. 
• Foster independence - one of the biggest learning curves when starting school is being more independent. A list of things to practise at home could be:
  • putting on their shoes or wellies themselves
  • putting on and zipping up a coat
  • hanging their coat up on a peg 
  • going to the toilet independently
  • washing hands properly
  • practise carrying a tray. If your child will be having school dinners it will be on a small try which they will carry to their seat
  • tidying up - sorting the toys into the correct containers/boxes and making sure things are tidy for the next person
  • recognising their own written name - pegs and trays will be named
  • use a knife and fork
  • take turns

               This may all seem obvious for some parents but you'd be surprised how many children start school unable to do these things for themselves!

• Anxieties - reassure your child that you'll be there on time to pick them up and that its ok to feel sad or nervous. Make sure they know they can talk to the teacher if they are worried about something or need help

Good Luck to you all!

 

Hopefully the adventure will be just that, an adventure.