Transition to school

Transition to school Is your child ready for school?

Being school ready is not dependent on whether your child can read and write. Being school ready is about the whole child. When deciding on the right time for your child to start school, it’s important to consider a range of factors, including your child’s age, emotional maturity, language skills, social skills, physical wellbeing and their ability to undertake simple self-help tasks independently.

How can you help prepare your child for beginning school?

  • Talk positively and confidently about starting and attending school
  • Speak with your child about the change in their daily routine, how will they get to school, what time they have to get up in the morning and what they will have in their lunch box
  • Visit the school with your child before they start so they’re familiar with the classrooms, playground equipment, bubblers, toilets, sick bay etc.
  • Meet the teachers that may be working with your child and speak about them positively to your child
  • Tell your child about support systems that the school offers e.g. if there is a buddy system where an older child supports your child in their first year of school
  • Read books together about starting school
  • Be involved in your child’s school community e.g. participating in playgroups, orientation days or other social gatherings like school fetes and welcome barbecues
  • Attend school events such as the book week parade, an assembly or school concert
  • Develop good relationships with other parents, especially other parents of your child’s friends
  • Establish good attendance patterns for your child
  • Develop family routines at home to support your child’s learning at school e.g. read with your child each night, help them with any homework etc.

How can you help your child settle into school?

The following suggestions may help you to support your child to settle comfortably and confidently into school:

  • Say goodbye confidently – saying a quick, confident goodbye may help them to feel secure and reassured that you trust that they will be okay at school.
  • Label your child’s belongings – labelling everything, including clothing, can help reduce anxiety for children, school staff and yourself. At school, children are responsible for their belongings and labels can help them with this.
  • Communicate with your child – take time to tell your child what might be happening at school that day, and in the afternoon, ask your child about their day. This is a great way to build confidence, and to find out how they are feeling as they settle in. If you have any concerns talk with your child’s teacher, who will provide further insight to their day.
  • Avoid overloading your child – when children begin school, they tire easily. It may be worth considering fewer extracurricular activities such as swimming, music or dance lessons, until they adjust to their new routine.

 

At Kradle 2 Krayons childcare centre, Penrith we exclusively follow our school readiness program.

 

Visit our chilcare centre in Penrith OR call us on (02) 4721 7607 if you have any questions/concerns.

 

(Source: Starting Blocks – Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority)