If you are a primary school teacher can you please tell me what you taught your child before they started school?

[ferriswheel]

Just that really.

[Crunchymum]

Why do you ask?

[noschooll4mee]

Nothing that academic ... she was going to get it all in school ..why spoil her learning? Firm believer in play and stories and talk .

[mynotsoperfectlife]

Secondary rather than primary and hopefully, to read.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Bugger all. Home is for having fun. Hot-housing is for people who are not trained educators.

[SnickersWasAHorse]

I teach reception but I don't have my own dc.
What it would be lovely for your child to know or be able to do:
Write their name, not in block capitals.
Recognise their name.
Get themselves dressed and undressed, not so worried about buttons.
To be able to toilet themselves.
To be familiar with a knife and fork, even if they can't cut up by themselves.
To have been read to. To know how to listen to a story.
To be able to do their own shoes up.

Be aware though that this is a list of things that are desirable, not all children will be able to do this by the start of reception. For example Eve has a much better chance of being able to write her name that Alexandra.

[RedScissors]

DD could write her name and count to ten. I was also a bit of a demon for her holding a pencil correctly.

I mostly concentrated on social skills (toilet, dressing herself, sharing, playing nicely) and respecting adults.

[RedScissors]

Sorry, those aren't particularly social skills. Self care and social skills!

[TittyGolightly]

respecting adults

Bit weird.

[Veterinari]

I have a few friends who teach reception - they really focussed on getting their kids to do what Snickers has outlined - especially toileting and shoes!

[SpottedOnMN]

Not a primary school teacher, but I forgot to teach DS to use scissors because I'd hidden them all ages before when DD got a bit snippy . Got puzzled comment from teacher and gave him a crash course!!

[DirectMe]

Being comfortable being away from primary carer and to be able to mix with peers. To know how to sit quietly and listen to instructions. They are likely to do a lot of cutting too so knowing how to use and pass scissors would be a bonus.

[AVeryBigHouse]

I taught my child to share, to use cutlery and wipe their bottoms after using the toilet. I made sure they'd had plenty of opportunities to be in social situations, Playgroups, meeting up with friends etc and lots of opportunities to be physical and to explore.

They all learned to write their name because they wanted to learn. They could all count to 20+, recognise numbers to 10 and count out 10 objects. This wasn't taught but just through everyday life.

Dd1 could read and write because she showed an interest and was ready. My twins, who start school in September, know some letter sounds but aren't ready to go any further.

Teachers won't expect they have been taught anything but I think the things in my first paragraph would be a good starting point.

[RedScissors]

It's not weird to teach your child to respect adults. I've been horrified at the total lack of manners in children in the past few years- they constantly interrupt adults speaking, they question and ignore instructions and generally don't bother listening.

[TheLongRains]

Whatever she's interested in. At the moment, she loves letters, so I'm telling her the sounds they make, and that seems to be sticking with her. She's crap at counting, can't even count to two reliably, but I'm not actively teaching her to count, as she's quite happy singing her rhymes using any old number name ("five three three one one...blast off!" type things).

Just doing whatever is normal to do with a preschooler means they'll learn stuff anyway. Singing, playing, dancing, baking...they don't need proper "teaching". If my daughter wants to learn how to read for herself, I'll help her, but really that's what teachers are for, not parents ;)


All that said, I'm probably too anti formal education anyway, for someone who used to teach. I like the scandi approach. Kids are young for so little time.

[ferriswheel]

Thank you. I'm an early years primary teacher. I agree with the pp about hit housing and not wanting to spoil school for them.

However, during recent transition days with my eldest I've been quite overwhelmed by the literacy some kids have been taught.

Guess I feel a bit insecure and that I might be letting my DC down.

[ArabellaRockerfella]

Similar to others;
recognise name, use the toilet independently, hold a pencil correctly, colouring, enjoy books, counting, follow instructions, etc
That is all :)

[ferriswheel]

Hot housing not hit

[Vroomster]

Getting themselves dressed, toileting and cutlery are all things pre school focused on and we were told to teach.

DC1 could write his name, count to 20 and knew the alphabet but that's because of wanting to learn. Reading books to them really helps.

[Fruitcorner123]

tillygolightly why is respecting adults weird?

[P1nkSparkles]

My mum & sister are primary school teachers & have told me not to teach my Dd to read as they now use phonics & she'll either have to unlearn what I've taught her and be taught phonics to meet the government assessments - or she'll be bored out of her brain recapping it if I was to teach her proper phonics. Which feels like a sad state of affairs really as I live reading to her...

But they have said the same as others... sharing, turn-taking, listening & respecting others, toileting, looking after your belongings, things that make school life easier.

[russetbella1000]

I'm a primary school teacher and did nothing consciously before my dd started reception.

She is, however, pretty motivated by the whole school experience so even at nursery she liked to complete the phonics/maths sheets she was given (for homework-🙄!)independently...

Personally, I'm from the 'children should be chilling till they're 7' camp while learning through play but if she's interested in something then I'll support her etc. She's currently an avid reader which is lovely but I don't feel I had much to do with it.

She literally did half a term at school before a book was given out & when she bought it home she was reading it.
With a different child it might be a different story.

I guess it's hard also to turn off the teacher in you so perhaps I do do things but it definitely doesn't involve anything formal...Just chatting through stuff we do/things we see seems to ignite enough interest for some learning...

Most teacher parents I know are more relaxed about homework etc I definitely am and my dd loves school and she's doing fiiiiiiiiiine 😉

[TittyGolightly]

tillygolightly why is respecting adults weird?

Respect is earned. I think adults expecting respect just because they're adults isn't reasonable, so I sure as hell am not gonna encourage a child to comply with it!

[russetbella1000]

And yes, I'm much more concerned that she's a happy, considerate & questioning human being rather than a clever robot.

[TittyGolightly]

It's not weird to teach your child to respect adults. I've been horrified at the total lack of manners in children in the past few years- they constantly interrupt adults speaking, they question and ignore instructions and generally don't bother listening.

My DD doesn't do those things. She waits her turn to speak with adults and children because that's polite. She shares with adults and children because she gets joy from it, not because it's expected. She listens to people that interest her regardless of age. (She's 6).

It's bizarre to expect her to be "respectful" (obedient?) to others just because she's a child and they're an adult. Not all adults deserve respect (Trump/Farage/Boris/Saville..........)

[RedScissors]

It is not 'being a robot' to listen to instructions and speak when it is your turn. A child should respect their teacher from the get go.

Is your child entitled to interrupt conversations? Are they entitled to shout out whenever they want? Nope.