Six ways to prepare children for primary school

Do you remember your first day of school?  If so, you’re far from alone.  That first crossing of the school gate marks one of the great adventures of a child’s life.  It creates memories that last a lifetime.

Getting children ready for the big day can be a daunting task for parents and carers, particularly those facing the journey for the first time.  Here are six things worth doing before September:

1. Start dropping the school name into conversation – once you know the name of the school, start sprinkling it into every day chats. At a quiet time, such as a Saturday, walk past the school gates so that your little one can start to get excited about where they will spend the next chapter of their childhood
2. Arrange a visit – most primary schools will provide opportunities for you and your child to go into school during the summer term. Take advantage of these.  It can help build excitement and give your youngster chance to get anything that’s worrying them off their chest
3. Try and make sure they can recognise their written name – does your child know what their name looks like written down? From coat pegs to table places, they will start encountering their written name from day one.  The more familiar they are with it, the better
4. Build bathroom confidence – when at school, youngsters will need to use the toilet independently. Start making sure they know how to remove relevant clothing, wipe themselves, flush the toilet and wash their hands.  Accidents will happen, and staff will be on hand to help.  But the more confident they are in the bathroom, the less this is something they will have to worry about
5. Get them eating independently, preferably with a knife and fork – whether it’s a packed lunch or a school dinner, kids will need to eat by themselves. Make sure they are comfortable with this and know how to use cutlery.  They don’t need to be perfect, but basic familiarity will help them settle into lunchtimes quickly
6. Practise getting dressed – yes, you will still be there to get them into their uniform each morning. But they will need to know how to dress and undress themselves for PE.  They also need to be comfortable getting their shoes on and off – but it doesn’t matter if they haven’t mastered laces yet

The first day of school is a huge event for your child.  But it’s also a big day for you.  Make use of friends, family and online forums to ensure you get the support you need to adjust.