Getting Ready For School — Give Your Little One The Best Start

Getting Ready For School — Give Your Little One The Best Start

No parent wants to think about their little ones growing up and heading to school  — why can’t they stay little forever? However, it’s part and parcel of family life and something that can’t be avoided. Whether you have a child of nursery age and you’re thinking about primary education or your child is finishing their time in primary school and will be heading to secondary school; you’ll want to prepare them as best you can (and yourself). It can be a daunting and challenging time for both parents and children; however, the more you plan and prepare, the better you’ll both feel when the day arrives in September (tip 1: take a handy pack of tissues if you’re dropping them off).

Keeping an upbeat and positive attitude about school around your kids will ensure that it’s something they look forward to, and you’ll reduce the risk of first-day tears (not yours, theirs). Making the preparation process thorough, but still fun, is a great way to encourage your kids to make the most of the time leading up to school, and they’ll feel less intimidated when they walk through the gates. The following are some ideas, inspiration, and advice, for parents who want to ensure that their little one has the best start to their school life as possible, and is ready to do all they can to get them ready.

• Give Them Help

You’ll want to ensure that your child gets into a great school, ideally; your first choice for their education. Many schools have an entrance exam, and your little one will be expected to complete it to a high enough standard to attend. Therefore, it’s worth preparing them as much as possible so that they have a great chance of passing the test. You can utilise educators to help your child understand what’s expected of them, and you can sit with them regularly and help them to practice. Do your research and understand what will be the requirements, but also; think about what the school or schools can offer you, and why you want your kids to attend. Help your children as much as you can, and don’t forget to prioritise their future happiness in education.

• Give Them Rewards

It’s no secret that rewarding great behaviour will have a positive and lasting effect on your child, so keep this approach in mind when it comes to their fledgling school life. Little treats like new stationery and a bag will keep the momentum and excitement up about their first day, and you can ensure that they feel part of the process so that there’s no feelings of a lack of control over their changing situation. If they’ve worked hard to revise or plan for their entrance exam; it’s time for a trip to the cinema, or their favourite pizza for dinner. You want to maintain positive associations with the whole process so that they can have the best start possible, and you can stop worrying quite so much.

• Get Them Extra Help if They Need It

If your child is struggling to keep up with things at school and your efforts are not working, consider hiring outside help. If science is a problem, hire a specialised science tutor, for example, or if you’re concerned about language development or dyslexia, see your GP or contact your health visitor for more advice. The sooner you get help, the better chance your child has to succeed and enjoy school.

Preparing for secondary school is another challenge. If you have a child in this age group, here are 6 things to teach your child now to get them ready to start secondary school.

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