My ds is 3.7 and due to start school in September. I am slightly concerned that we are underprepared, and am considering delaying him until Christmas or maybe easter.
What can your preschooler do?
Undress: yes
Dress: no
Use knife and fork: yes
Use scissors: no (only if using two hands)
Hold pencil properly: yes
Play with other children cooperatively: about 50:50
He can count to 20, add and subtract using a number line or objects to 10, read numbers to 100, order numbers to 10, knows 2d shapes and some 3d, knows all letter sounds and most letter names, can read CVC words by saying the letters and blending, can write his name but not neatly and hopeless at drawing. In fact Im not sure he has ever drawn anything recognisable! He rarely draws though, he has no interest at all in it.
Does he sound there or thereabouts? I know they all have strengths / weaknesses and it tends to even out, just concerned that as a younger reception child he isn't going to cope.
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If your dc is starting school in September what can they do?
Whatsdoneisdoneisdone · 13/03/2013 19:59
I would not worry about the "academic" stuff but focus on the practical eg dressing and undressing (for PE), recognising own name (for labels in things), opening tupperware containers etc for packed lunch if appropriate, going through the whole toilet process including flushing and washing hands without needing any help or reminders. That sort of thing.
He sounds just fine. And 6 months is a long time! 
Ds2 is just 4 and can:
Dress and undress bottom end but tops confuse him
Use scissors well
Hold pencil well
Recognise most letters and the sounds they make
Count to 10 and recognise numbers into the hundreds by sight
Do some simple addition and subtraction
Glue and paint neatly
He cannot however:
Poo in the toilet
Speak coherently, he's missing most of his consonant sounds
Read, although he's interested so possibly by September
Draw, he just scribbles, we've never had a single recognisable picture, unless a wobbly circle counts?
Play interactively with other children, he'll play alongside or allow them to join in his games but he won't express and interest in joining their game
He has verbal dyspraxia and possibly other SN though and will have resource hours and hopefully an SNA in class.
He's very anxious and clingy and has meltdowns if reprimanded so it's going to be a shock to his system, the infants teacher is good but quite strict
Don't worry too much re the dressing, lots of them will need help, and teacher and TAs will help if necessary. I remeber going into DS's classroom to help after the nativity play in his reception year... 30 children all trying to change out of costumes and into uniforms... total carnage but they all got there in the end. My primary school teacher friend assures me that most of a PE lesson in the first couple of years is taken up with getting changed!
DS is an August birthday so will start this Sept and can:
Count pretty well up to about 50
Recognise his name and few other letter
Tell you every single engine, truck, crane and bus on Sodor
Pull his pant and trousers up but not put them on initially
He can't (or won't):
draw anything except a scribble, not even the most basic shape
get his own shoes on
get his coat on
we are going to focus on these things before Sept. I am much more concerned about the personal skills than academia. They are still babies, they don't need to read and write yet. Its very hard not be drawn into anxiety competitions but I am assuming the school will tell me soon enough if they have concerns. I am a teacher myself and value academia highly, but I do think we start too early, especially with summer-borns. I think keeping them back though only exacebates the problem.
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