Parenting News

Preparing toddlers for school

There are lots of ways in which you can prepare your child for the world of school.

Visit the school with your child to give him an opportunity to see what the class does • Walk past at break-time to show children playing happily outside

• Explain what will happen during the day

• Read books together about children starting school

• Point out any friends or cousins who've recently started school and talk about the fun they're having

• Talk about your child's interests and the things he'll enjoy there - for example "there'll be lots of sand to play with - you'll love that" or "there'll be story time"

• Talk about the enjoyable activities he'll be doing that build on things he already does at home - painting, drawing, cutting and pasting and listening to stories, for example

Before their first day, you may also want to check the following with the school:

• What's the usual daily routine?

• How long can you stay once you've dropped off your child?

• Do they require your child to be toilet trained?

• Are there any routines you can practice in advance, such as resting after lunch?

There are also practical ways you can help your child settle in quickly:

• Point out the structure and routines in a day at home - "now it's our lunchtime and at school you'd be eating your lunch too"

• Practice doing up buttons and fastening shoes, but don't worry or pressure him if this proves too difficult

• Practice social skills, such as taking turns, following directions and making choices

• Visit friends with children or invite other children to play

• Teach simple chores that may be useful at school, such as packing away toys

Remember, all these activities should be fun - it's important not to pressurise your child. If you're making your child in the least bit anxious, stop talking about it quite so much.

This story is from The BBC



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