Is your little one starting reception this year?
The new school year is only a couple of weeks away (how did that happen?!). A child starting school for the first time can be an anxious time for children and parents alike.
Check out this week’s blog for our top tips for preparing your child (and yourself!) for starting school.
Get into the routine now
If you’re anything like us bedtimes and mornings will have become a bit more relaxed over the summer. It’s a good idea to get into the routine of getting up early and going to bed early now so it’s not too much of a shock to the system once school starts.
Let your child wear their school uniform around the house
It’s a good idea for them to practice wearing their school uniform and to make sure they are comfortable in their clothes and shoes before they begin wearing them at school. It will become familiar to them, which may help when they are in unfamiliar surroundings.
Talk to them
Talk about what’s going to happen each day. You can ask the school what the rough daily routine will be so they know what to expect.
Show them where they will be going
Walk or drive past the school a few times if you can so they can picture where they’re going. Have a practise of doing the school run so it starts to feel familiar.
Help them to be as independent as possible
Teaching them to the toilet by themselves, getting dressed and putting shoes on themselves will all help them.
Teach them to recognise their name
This will have them find their peg, tray or locker when they’re at school
Sitting cross legged
Make sure they know how to sit with their legs crossed as they’ll probably be asked to sit like this when doing group work in reception.
Carrying a tray
Get them to practise how to carry a tray with stuff on it as they’ll need to do this at lunchtime.
Encourage them to talk about their worries
Let them know it’s okay to feel nervous about starting school and talk to them about how they are feeling. It can be very daunting especially when everyone they see over the summer may have asked them about ‘big school’. Give them plenty of opportunities to talk about their worries.
It can feel like the end of an era when your baby starts school and it can understandably be such an emotional time for parents too so make sure you’re also kind to yourself!
Good luck to all the little ones starting this year!