sarahtraversHelping your child get ready for starting school
Listen on your chosen podcast player
Starting school is a significant milestone for children and parents alike. In this episode, we share expert tips and practical advice to ensure a smooth transition when your child is starting school. Learn how to prepare your child with essential skills and confidence for their exciting new journey.
In this episode about starting school:
Quick Tips for Starting School –
1. Jo Moore from Little Learners Tutoring (IG @Little _learnerstutoringuk)
Jo, with 12 years of experience as a reception class teacher and an online phonics and reading tutor, emphasizes the importance of early phonics skills:
- Oral Blending: Practice putting sounds together to make words. Use everyday moments, like getting dressed, to ask your child to put on their “s-o-cks” (socks).
- Identifying Initial Sounds: Play sound identification games, like “I spy” with sounds, to help your child recognize the first sounds of words.
2. Rachael from Funics (IG @funics.mightymuscles)
Rachael, who prepares young children for reading and writing through fun activities, shares a tip on drawing on vertical surfaces:
- Vertical Drawing: Use paper or whiteboards at your child’s eye level. Encourage them to make marks from top to bottom and left to right. This activity supports hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and brain function, preparing them for writing at school.
3. Sheila from Edulinxs.Club (IG @edulinxs.club)
Sheila, a Montessori teacher, recommends familiarizing your child with their new environment:
- Visit the School: Take pictures or videos of the school and teacher. Share these with your child a few weeks before school starts to help them get excited and comfortable with the new setting.
4. Jen Shaw from Jen Teaches Reading (IG @jen.teaches.reading)
Jen emphasizes the importance of outdoor play for developing gross motor skills:
- Outdoor Play: Activities like climbing, running, and jumping build core and arm muscles, which are foundational for fine motor skills used in writing and other school tasks.
5. Teacher Tif (FB Group: Going to School and Learning at Home with Teacher Tiff)
Tif, with over 20 years of experience, offers practical advice for everyday situations:
- Practice School Routines: When visiting cafes, have your child practice lining up, carrying a tray, and using different types of taps and hand dryers. This helps them get used to school routines and environments.
6. Yoga Buds Ireland (IG @yogabudsireland)
Specializing in practical life skills, Yoga Birds Ireland suggests:
- Lunchbox Practice: Have your child practice opening and closing their lunchbox daily. This makes it less daunting on their first day of school.
7. Haifa from Primary English Tutor UK ( IG: primaryenglishtutor_uk)
Haifa’s tip focuses on fostering a positive attitude:
- Positive Attitude: Read “The Wonderful Things You Will Be” by Emily Martin to get your child excited about school. Building connections with other parents can also help in organizing playdates, easing your child into new social settings.
8. Adrianne Tomatas from AT Primary Education (IG: atprimaryeducation)
Adrianne emphasizes the importance of emotional understanding:
- Talk About Emotions: Use emojis to help your child identify their feelings. Role-play different scenarios and discuss coping strategies like breathing techniques. This prepares them for navigating new relationships and situations at school.
9. Experience Losing
Lastly, give your child the experience of losing a game. This helps them handle losing gracefully in a school setting.
These tips offer a variety of ways to help your child prepare for school. Remember to enjoy this exciting time with your child as they embark on this new stage of learning and development. We hope to see many happy, smiley faces ready for school!
Reading Made Delicious Resources to help support you
- Download the ultimate guide to using recipes for learning to read and get started with helping your child create memories whilst learning to read today.
- Check out the latest Reading Made Delicious recipes and reading support here
Join our Reading Made Delicious Podcast Community to grow your child’s reading and early learning:
Send me a DM on Instagram. I love chatting with families (and other educators). So send me your thoughts on starting school.
Enjoying the podcast? Thanks for tuning in!
Tag me @reading_made_delicious on Instagram and tell me what you are listening to! I love seeing what resonates most with our listeners!
I don’t want you to miss a thing! Be the first to know when an episode is available by subscribing to your favourite player here Apple Podcasts – Spotify – Amazon Music – Google Podcasts
If you would like to support the Reading Made Delicious Podcast, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a review on iTunes. By leaving a review, you are helping more families to find this and help support their child’s learning journey.
To leave a review on iTunes, click here and scroll down to ratings and reviews. Click ‘write a review’ and share with me how this podcast is helping you grow your child’s learning.
Ready for more? Listen to these Reading Made Delicious Podcast Episodes next:
- Going at their own pace…slowing down to REALLY help their learning (Ep 44)
- Simple Ways to Help Your Child Be More Confident with Reading (Ep.36)
Content Disclaimer
The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this episode are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast. Sarah Travers disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this episode.