If your child will soon be attending primary school then you need to make sure they are ready for this huge life event. What may seem like something really small for us adults, is an important time in your little one’s life. If they are not well prepared then it can go catastrophically wrong from the start. Take a look below to find out how you can support your child the best you can when they go to school.
Meals
You will need to decide if you want your child to have school dinners or packed lunch. They often sit at different tables in school so it is easier for the teachers to manage. You may run into problems if your child’s friends are having the opposite to them. For example, your child might have school dinners and their friends have packed lunch. This means they won’t be able to sit together at lunch. A lot of children start with school dinners when they attend primary school, so this might be a good idea in the beginning and see what is best for you and your child.
Play Dates
Before your child starts school they will need to know social etiquette and cues to get by at school and in life. If these are missing then they may struggle to make and keep friendships. A great way to prepare your child for friendships and how they work is to arrange play dates with children their own age. This will give them examples of how to behave and what is acceptable and appropriate, and what isn’t. You may have friends with children the same age as yours, or you can attend mother and baby groups.
Learning
It can be a huge change going from playing all the time to sitting at a table working on writing and equations. You can aid with this transition at home by printing off worksheets to practice letter and number formation. You can also buy workbooks that are suitable for your child’s age and stage of development. If your child attends a pre-school this will help them prepare as they follow a similar setup to schools. Your child’s setting may pick up on any issues your child has, especially if they suspect special educational needs. You will be signposted and referred to the necessary services, an autism program for example. The earlier any problems are picked up, the better.
Uniform
Finally, something your child may not be used to is school uniform. It can be a huge change from t-shirts and leggings to polo shirts, trousers, and jumpers. It may take some negotiation and persuasion for your child to get their uniform on. Once you know which school your child is going to you can get some uniform ordered for your child. If you hang the uniform up where your child can see it, then encourage them to try it on. It can be tricky getting a uniform on, so practice will make perfect.
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