Is your child starting school soon?
Starting school is a big step. It’s normal for you and your child to feel a mix of emotions in the lead up to starting school. Your child will have lots of new experiences and things to get used to in their first weeks and months at school.
The way you spend time together and the habits you form before their first day can help prepare them for this exciting adventure and give them the best possible start. You’ve probably been doing lots of helpful activities – like chatting, playing, reading and singing – without even realising.
Developing the skills for your child to start school
At school, children use their speaking and listening skills, and their knowledge of words to learn, make friends and ask grown-ups for help. You can help your child develop these skills in everyday moments. It’s never too early or too late to start.
Our Everyone Ready for School booklet has lots of ideas to help.
What does 'school ready' mean?
How your child starts at school matters.
The stronger your child’s communication skills are when they start school, the easier it’ll be for them to participate in classroom activities and school life. That's what we mean by being school ready. Building your child’s early literacy skills will set them up to be able to join in with stories and songs, make friends and start learning to read and write.
Remember, every child is unique, and you know yours best. Preparing to start school isn’t about a tick list. Building your child’s confidence, communication skills and their enjoyment of stories is a great place to start.
You can keep developing these skills once they start school too.
How can I help my child get ready for school?
Your family time makes an amazing difference.
It’s not about fancy activities or expensive toys, it’s the back-and-forth chats while tidying up, the stories you tell while walking to the shops, and all the other little moments of playing and communicating.
The Everyone ready for school booklet offers simple suggestions to grow your child’s literacy skills every day.
The fun, easy activities will help your child:
- Build their communication skills
- Grow their imagination
- Develop their confidence and independence.
Scroll down for more activity ideas.
Preparing your child to start school: Multilingual information
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