Ten top tips for a great start to school

Starting school is exciting but can also be a bit scary. Some children are shy and anxious in new situations and find it hard to be apart from you.

• Talk positively about going to school, making new friends and doing exciting new things like learning new songs, painting and playing outside.
• Encourage your child to talk about how they’re feeling before, on, and after the first few days.
• Try a practice run. Visit the school so your child knows where they’re going and what to expect.
• When you arrive at school, stay for a short time with your child.
• When it’s time to go, tell them that you’re going and when you will be back.
• Always be back when you said you would.

Your child needs a good night’s sleep for their brain to be ready to learn (about 10 to 12 hours).

• Set up a nice, relaxing bedtime routine – a drink, bath, brush teeth, cuddle, story, kiss and ‘goodnight’.
• Just before bed is not a good time for tickles, TV or other excitement.
• Set a regular time for bed.

Read lots and lots of books.

• Have a special time each day to read stories together – sit comfortably so your child can see the book and your face, and you can see theirs.
• Show them how to open the book, point to the title, the letters, words and pictures so they know what they mean.
• Read nursery rhymes and favourite stories again and again.
• Get your child involved by asking questions. ‘What do you think will happen next?’

At school, children learn to make friends, share and take turns.

• Find ways for your child to meet children outside your family.
• Have other children over to play, particularly those who will be in your child’s class. 
• Pretend play, such as tea parties, going to the shops and superheroes, are a big part of school. Let your child use their imagination. A shoe box can be a toy car or a doll’s bed.

Having fun at the park provides lots of chances to enjoy the swings, slide and other equipment. Physical activity like this:

• makes your child’s muscles stronger and prepares them for outdoor play at school. Always supervise children when they’re playing
• uses a part of the brain that helps kids concentrate, so physical activity is great before a sit down activity like reading a book.

Listening and understanding

This includes following instructions, and being aware of what other people are saying. If your child finds this tricky, try:

• waiting – give them time to answer or do the task
• repeating what was said or breaking it down into smaller parts
• using fewer or simpler words, and explaining what new words mean
• giving clues like, ‘You cut with the…’
• giving choices like, ‘Do we use a cup for drinking or eating?’

Sharing thoughts and ideas

Commenting, negotiating, asking for things and greeting people are all important skills at school. If your child finds this tricky, try:

• encouraging them to make comments like ‘Dad’s swimming’
• repeating a word correctly if they made a mistake
• asking them to show you what they need if they can’t say it in words
• giving lots of praise for trying.

Make sure your child gets lots of practice using things like scissors, pencils and paint so they’ll feel confident using them at school.

Scissors

Practise cutting on a line – show your child how to hold scissors properly.

• Thumb in top hole of scissors and other thumb on top of the paper they’re cutting.
• Turn the paper and move hands when cutting around a corner.

Drawing

At school, children do lots of drawing, so practise by drawing simple shapes like lines and circles. This is the first step before learning how to write.

• Try drawing in sand or with chalk.
• Show your child how to do it and then get them to copy you.

Pencil grasp

Holding a pencil or crayon properly means:

• holding it near the tip  – use a sticker or dot to show him where to put their fingers
• using three or four fingers. If they’re holding with a fist, gently correct their hold.

It’s easier at school if your child can dress and undress themselves.

• Help your child to choose clothes they can manage on their own.
• Practise dressing. Help them start off, then let them complete the rest, gradually letting them do more until they can do it all by themselves.
• Practise with dress-up and dolls.
• Choose suitable clothes for school – they might play outside or do painting.

Healthy lunches and snacks help with concentration and learning.

• Try a practice picnic. Check your child can open containers and manage their food.
• Involve your child in choosing and packing their own lunch.
• Include lots of vegetables, fresh fruit, cheese, yoghurt, lean meat, wholemeal bread, and a bottle of water. Pack just the right amount – not too much.
• Start the day with a healthy breakfast.

To help your child manage going to the toilet at school, give them lots of practice to undo, pull down and do up their clothes, flush the toilet and wash their hands, all by themselves.