Top Tips for Starting School

When a child starts school (in the UK this is at 4 years old), teachers build on skills that have already been put in place by the pre-school years. This includes concentration, language behaviour, and early number work, writing work and becoming independent.

We all want our children to be confident, relaxed and eager to learn, ready for school and life beyond that! I have applied some of these tips already without knowing I had done so, and therefore have drawn back ideas and tips to help you.

FACT:
Boys and girls are very different, and each child is an individual too. Girls develop language skills faster and are ahead of boys in reading. In school boys are risk takers and girls are more cautious.

TIPS:

• Energy levels, interests, abilities, and speed of development in children are hugely different. Have the confidence to do what you feel is right for YOUR child, even if it's different from the crowd! Children need opportunity for free-play and self discovery and time to chill out.
• TALK, TALK , TALK to your child, the more she hears the spoken word and talks with other people, the better prepared her language will be for school.
• Teach your child to develop his understanding of emotions (his own and others).use play scenes to practise the skills to help him feel secure and confident.
• A healthy breakfast makes a good start to the morning and will set her up for the morning at school.
• Urge your child to be independent the toilet ritual department, this will make it less stressful going to the toilet at school without you there.
• Set up and stick to routines, this will make life easier for everyone. Following a routine doesn't mean you are rigid or boring, all the family will be free to enjoy more independence and have more time for fun too.
• Take an active role in helping your child develop social skills and make friends with parents of other children in the class. Practise friendship making using dolls and play scenes at home.
• READ, READ, READ with your child. Enjoy lots of books and stories together and play fun sound and letter games.
• Teach your child shape and colours, this is a basic tool that will be easy to understand once in the class room, if you child has already had experience with it.
• Have lots of fun with drawing and painting and colouring in. And look forward to the day when your child can sign her own art work!

Author: J Fuller

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