Ready, Steady, Go… is Your Child ‘School Ready’? - The Potential Ability Group (TPAG)

May 26th, 2021Lucy KempsterActivities & Ideas, Early Development, Motor Skills, Play & Socialising

Starting school is an exciting milestone for not only your child, but for yourselves as parents, as your child begins their journey towards independence. School is a new and unfamiliar experience for your child so preparing them for this experience is important and creates a solid foundation that prepares them to succeed and flourish.

Is my child ready for school?

This is a common thought and experience for parents as children progress through and graduate from kindergarten. A common misperception is that your child is ready for school when they can read and write, however this is not the case. The term ‘school readiness’ is commonly used amongst education-based centres to describe your child as a whole, considering their knowledge, cognitive skills, physical skills and social and emotional behaviours that will enable them to engage in and succeed at school. Such skills may look like your child’s ability to listen to and follow instructions, transition between activities when asked, being able to independently communicate their wants and needs, take turns with others and play in an appropriate manner towards others.

If feeling concerned about your child’s ‘school readiness’ it is advised that you discuss this further with your child’s current educators to seek and discuss their opinion further. Further, most primary schools conduct an orientation program where you can meet and discuss your thoughts and concerns further with your child’s new principle and teaching staff.

How can I help prepare my child for school?

It is important to talk positively about school from the get-go, to help your child feel confident and excited to attend.
Attend your child’s orientation, allowing them to meet their teachers and new peers who they will get to know and work alongside throughout the school year.
When visiting the school, familiarise your child with their new environment, such as visiting their classroom and their siblings’ classrooms, visit the playground, toilets, front office, and water fountains.
Discuss your child’s new routine with them including who will pick them up and drop them off at school and where this will happen, what time they have to get up in the morning, show them their uniform and practice putting it on and discuss what they would like to pack in their lunch box. This discussion helps to make this new experience predictable for them.
If your child responds well to visual cues, it may be important to create a visual chart that outlines their morning routine for them to follow.
Develop or continue with established routines, such as reading to your child at night and keep their bedtime consistent.
If possible, try to arrange a play date with another child who will be attending the same school, allowing your child to build upon their social skills to feel confident that they will know somebody at school and won’t be alone.
Continue to encourage your child to practice getting dressed, put their shoes on and use the toilet independently to build upon their confidence and self-care skills.

In the lead up to school, practice fine motor, gross motor and social skill activities, some suggestions are outlined below:

Fine motor: drawing with pencils, crayons and textas, playdough play, craft activities and finger painting.
Gross motor: running, jumping, skipping, ball games and playground play.
Social skills: turn taking games like Snap or Snakes and ladders and play dates with other children.

Most importantly, remember your child and their peers will all develop in their own time and will have their own unique strengths and approach to learning in the classroom and school yard. If you do have any concerns regarding your little persons development, please do not hesitate to speak to their teacher, your local GP, or of course, us as Occupational Therapists. Now sit back and enjoy the ride!

References

Australian Government Learning Potential 2020, Is your child ready for big school?, viewed 28 April 2021, < https://www.learningpotential.gov.au/articles/is-your-child-ready-for-big-school>.

Connor, J., & Linke, P 2012, ‘Your child’s first year at school. Getting off to a good start: A guide for parents’, Early Childhood Australia and Australian Principals Association.

Dockett, S., & Perry, B 2016, ‘Supporting children’s transition to school age care’, Australian Educational Researcher, Vol 43(3), 309-326. doi: 10.1007/s13384-016-0202-y.

Dockett, S., & Perry, B 2014, ‘Continuity of learning: A resource to support effective transition to school and school age care’, viewed 28 April 2021, http://docs.education.gov.au/documents/continuity-learning-resource-support-effective-transition-school-and-school-age-care.