Supporting the transition to school.

Being Ready for School: Transition Tips

Starting school is an exciting milestone for both children and their families. To help ease the transition and ensure your child is ready, here are some key areas to focus on:

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Emotional Readiness

• Independence: Encourage your child to complete simple tasks on their own, such as putting on their coat, using the bathroom, or packing their bag. This builds confidence and reduces anxiety when they are expected to manage these tasks independently at school.

• Separation Confidence: Help your child get used to being apart from you by gradually increasing the time they spend away from home, such as staying with a friend or relative.

• Emotional Expression: Teach your child to express their feelings using words. Talk openly about their emotions and encourage them to share how they feel about starting school.

• Developing Resilience: Foster coping skills to handle challenges or changes. Discuss potential situations (like making a new friend or following instructions) and model positive ways to respond.

Social Skills

• Sharing and Taking Turns: Encourage activities at home that promote sharing, like playing board games or group activities. Being able to share toys and take turns is important for building positive relationships at school.

• Following Directions: Help your child practice listening to instructions, both at home and in social settings. This will help them follow teachers' directions and instructions in a group.

• Making Friends: Support your child in learning how to greet others, ask to join games, and introduce themselves. Encourage positive interactions with peers by setting up playdates or socializing with other children.

• Respecting Others' Feelings: Teach your child to be kind, polite, and considerate of others' emotions and personal space. Practicing empathy will help them build strong friendships.

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Self-Care and Practical Skills

• Bathroom Skills: Ensure your child is comfortable using the toilet independently. Practice proper handwashing and hygiene routines, and ensure they can manage their clothing (e.g., zipping up their coat, buttoning pants).

• Eating Independently: Encourage your child to feed themselves and use utensils properly. If they are bringing lunch to school, practice opening lunch boxes, containers, and drinks on their own.

• Organizational Skills: Teach your child how to take care of their personal belongings, like keeping track of their school bag, coat, and shoes. Practice packing and unpacking their bag to help with this.

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Talking About School

• Familiarize with the School Environment: If possible, visit the school beforehand to explore the classroom, meet the teacher, and walk around. This can help your child feel more comfortable and less anxious about the new setting.

• Establish a Positive Mindset: Talk positively about school. Share stories or books about starting school, and focus on the exciting things, like making new friends and learning fun things.

• Routine and Expectations: Discuss what a typical school day will be like (e.g., lunchtime, nap time, playtime, etc.) so that your child knows what to expect. Consistent routines help children feel secure and confident.

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Academic Readiness

• Basic Literacy Skills: Help your child become familiar with letters, numbers, and basic phonics. Practice recognizing their own name and letters in their environment (e.g., signs, books).

• Basic Math Skills: Encourage counting objects (e.g., toys, blocks), recognizing shapes, and understanding concepts like "more" and "less."

• Listening Skills: Practice listening to stories or simple instructions at home. Help your child stay focused for short periods of time and engage with books and stories to improve attention span.

• Interest in Learning: Encourage a love of learning by exposing your child to a variety of activities like arts, crafts, nature walks, and simple puzzles. Play-based learning is a great way to build skills.