HOW CAN I HELP GET MY CHILD READY FOR SCHOOL
Going to school is a very busy and exciting time.
You can help your child in lots of simple ways.
EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL
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Meeting/playing with other children. Encourage them to make ‘new’ friends.
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When playing, encourage them to take turns and share. Allow them time to play independently.
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Concentrate on any activities or tasks you give them e.g. a board game, a drawing activity, helping to make
lunch/dinner.
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Dress and undress themselves. Children change clothes for PE in school.
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Independently put on coats, zip them and change shoes.
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Tidy up their toys.
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Toileting independently. Boys need to be familiar with urinals and how to use them.
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Spend time away from you to help them separate happily when starting school.
COMMUNICATION
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Encourage children to listen and follow instructions e.g. Go and get your coat and put on your shoes.
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Allow your child time to talk to you and other adults/children.
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Read books together. Point out ‘parts’ of a book (cover, title, first page). Help your child turn the pages correctly.
Talk about the pictures, they tell us what the words say.
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Have fun finding out facts in information books. The local library has lots of suitable books for young children.
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Let your child make marks/scribbles on paper. If they want to write, allow them to experiment with this. Please
remember we use cursive writing at Dunbar PS. See staff if you would like a sheet of cursive letters.
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If interested, encourage pencil control and grip with fun activities. Allow your child to use scissors and play dough.
These activities develop the hand muscles and control needed for writing.
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Be a good role model. Let your child see you reading and writing.
Your child does not need to know how to write letters, their name or have a knowledge of letter sounds. They will quickly
learn this at school.
MATHS AND TECHNOLGY
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Counting during day to day activities (e.g. going up the stairs, bricks when building, looking at numbers around
them).
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Be aware/recognise colours.
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Talk about shapes – square, triangle – sandwiches, round/circle – plate etc.
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Talk about times – morning, lunch, afternoon.
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Use technology daily – appropriate computer games/electronic games and books.
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Allow children to use a variety of tools e.g. cutlery, scissors, garden trowels/spades.
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Make and play with playdough/plasticine (good activity to develop fine motor skills).
It is important to remember that children learn about the world, develop language and
mathematical skills and social skills through play and experiences.
Every child develops at a different pace. Your child is an individual.
Offer them encouragement and praise at each development stage.
ENJOY THE SUMMER AND HAVE FUN WITH YOUR CHILD