How to Help Your Child Prepare for School

Transitioning from childcare or kindy into school can be quite scary for kids, and it can be hard sometimes, as parents, to know what role we can play in easing that transition. At each of our centres, we provide a Queensland Government Approved Kindergarten Program, support by a fully qualified educator, but there are also a few things you can do at home.

Talk about school:

Help your child understand the transition ahead of them by talking positively about school and all the new experiences that comes with it, such as new friends, a new teacher, homework, their new uniform, and what they might like in their lunchbox. It is important to talk about school as an exciting and fun new stage in your child’s life, the more positive you are when talking about it, the less scared your little one will be.

Attend open days:

Taking your child along to visit the school will help them adjust to their new environment and get excited about their first day. Open days are great as they give you and your child the opportunity to explore the grounds, get accustomed to where everything is, learn about programs, and meet the educators. Your child could even make friends who they may be attending school with.

Get to know their teacher:

Introduce yourself to your child’s teacher and talk to them about any difficulties or anxieties your child may be having. Social anxiety and separation anxiety are fairly common in young children, particularly going into school, and it can be hard for your child to communicate this with you, as they may not be aware of what it is. It is important to take this into consideration, talk to your child, and communicate about this with their teacher. If you are concerned that your child may be experiencing higher than normal levels of anxiety about starting school, find out more here.

Start some preparation activities at home:

There are a number of simple activities you can do at home to help develop your child develop the skills needed for school, such as reading, writing, sports, concentration and awareness. Some of these include:

• Reading with your child 
• Drawing and writing with your child 
• Outdoor activities, such as ball games or playing outside with other kids  
• Playing board games 
• Getting your child to help around the house, such as picking up toys, cleaning their room, putting things away where they found them – this helps to teach responsibility and good behaviour  

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How to Help Your Child Prepare for School

Sending your child to childcare is a daunting but exciting milestone for your child and family. All of you will be experiencing changes as your child settles into new learning environments. To help with the transition, we have put together a list of tips. – READ MORE