If your child is going to be starting school in September, you may be feeling a bit anxious about it all. There is no denying that starting school is a momentous occasion for any child. Often, it can be a battle between the parent and the child when it comes to determining who is the most nervous about it all! However, preparation is key. We always feel better about something when we are prepared, don’t we? So, preparing your child for their first day at school can make all the difference.

Ther are a number of things you may want to consider doing as the first day gets closer and closer. Some of these are as follows.

• Encourage independence when it comes to different tasks like washing and drying hands, using the bathroom, putting on and taking shoes off, hanging up clothes, and dressing and undressing. These are all the types of things that your child will need to do at school. So encouraging independence like this is advised.
• You should consider reading stories that are relating to starting school.
• Try on the uniform with your child. This is always exciting!
• You may also be able to arrange some playdates in the holidays with another new starter; you can even arrange to go in on the first day together. Schools like Sedbergh School also have summer programmes, so this can be another approach when it comes to preparing your child.
• Mention the teachers by name.
• Make trips past the school. Talk with your child about how they are going to go into the school.

At this stage, it is more important for your child to be good at soft skills than it is being able to read or knowing numbers and letters (of course, there is nothing wrong with that either!) Because of this, it is a good idea to take on board the value of ‘chatter’ with your little one. Why not share a talk or a book over the breakfast table, for example? This will naturally give your child the ability to explore meaningful questions and to enrich their personality.

There are a number of different things that you can do to make sure your child has the best chance of success at school as well. This includes encouraging your child to think for themselves, as well as play at home, for example, baking, glueing and sticking, cutting, and building LEGO. All of these activities can help. It is also an excellent time to encourage less screen time and to ensure your child has a good bedtime routine so that they get the amount of sleep they need.

To conclude, there is no denying that starting school can be a scary experience for both the child and the parent. However, it is all about making sure you are as prepared as possible. Preparation is key in all walks of life, and school is no different. Use the advice that has been provided above to help you get started.

*Collaborative post

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