Preparing Kids For School

Tips to prepare for school

• Visit the school several times with your child.
• If your child hasn’t been to pre-school, arrange for them to spend a day with friends who have children of a similar age, so they get accustomed to being separated from you.
• Encourage them to be able to tell someone their name, address and phone number.
• Teach them to put things away after finishing an activity.
• Teach them to tie and untie their shoelaces or buckle and unbuckle their shoes.
• Let them practise putting on and taking off their outer clothing – raincoat, jumper, shoes and socks.
• Invite their friends over for a pretend school day, when they can have lunch outside from their lunch box, play ball games, and sit and draw.
• Buy their schoolbag well in advance, so that they can practise packing and unpacking their lunch box, raincoat, etc.
• Let them decorate their own lunchbox and backpack so they know which one is theirs.
• Teach them to open a popper, unscrew a drink bottle and use a water bubbler.
• Show them how to cover their face with a tissue when they cough, sneeze or blow their nose.
• Make sure they can flush the toilet and wash their hands by themselves. (Check for soap and paper in the school toilets.)
• Remember to check that your child’s immunisation is up to date and consider a health check with your Child and Family Health Nurse or family doctor.”