When August rolls in it certainly leaves that back-to-school feeling in the air. If you have a little one starting school this year, or if you’re just looking ahead to September 2017, try these tips to make sure your child is ready for that giant step into BIG SCHOOL!
Thanks to the government funded preschool years your child may already be in a loose routine and have begun developing those all important social skills. Big school is a big deal for your little one and it’s good practice for every pre-schooler parent to equip you child with the basic skills to make that transition from preschool to primary school as easy as possible.
Forge good relationships
Encourage your child to play with other children as much as possible. By the age of three, most children are able to interact with their playmates. This is a good time to teach them the value of sharing and how to get along with people. Try to let playmates sort things out between themselves as much as possible, but be there to guide and intervene if needed!
Encourage independence
As your child gets older, start giving them tasks to complete by themselves, such as putting his toys away and wiping the table after dinner. Encourage them to dress themselves and put dirty clothes into the wash basket. Most kids love helping out in the kitchen, so even if you’re dreading the mess, you’re doing a good thing by letting them help! Equally, as your child gets older, let them take responsibility for some decisions, eg let them choose between two outfits or between two choices for lunch.
Read: Transitioning your child from preschool to big school!
Teach about emotions
Talk to your child about emotions, why he/she might be feeling sad or happy. Use storybooks and talk about how the character might be feeling and why. Encourage your child to tell you how they feel in certain situations, and let this be a starting point for teaching your child about dealing with extreme emotions.
Encourage speaking and listening skills
The best way to teach your child how to listen is by good example! When your child is talking, focus on what they are saying and respond with his/her name so they know you are listening and interacting with them. Bend down to their level and listen and interact. As your child gets older, try games like Simon Says to foster listening skills. Equally, encourage language and speaking skills by simply talking regularly with your child. Ask about their day and talk about yours. If you can, a family dinner is the perfect opportunity to teach interaction skills.
Be enthusiastic!
Children naturally love learning. Let him try new things and offer plenty of encouragement and praise. If there’s something in particular your child is into, encourage this by teaching them more about it – for instance, if your child loves wildlife, go on a nature walk or do some bird watching. You want your child to see that learning is fun, so don’t turn it into anything formal – just have fun and encourage all the way.
maternity&infant
Originally posted 2016-08-02 16:50:03.