What was your child like between 3 and a half and 4?

[3and4]

I’m interested as I can see lots about development up to the age of three but it tapers off after that. DS turns 3 and a half next month.

He’s started to get interested in the alphabet and months of the year. He knows some shapes and can count to ten. Enjoys reading books, erm … not sure if I should be doing anything specific to get him ‘school ready’ (September 25.) Sometimes I think we’re just fine and other times I stress!

The best things you can do to get them “school ready” is to teach a bit of independence - putting on their own shoes and coat, wiping bum, washing hands etc

Reading / writing etc - no real need, they’ll learn that at school

He’s fairly good at own shoes and coat although sometimes gets shoes on the wrong feet! Wiping bottom is a long way off I fear. Washing hands is fine but I do supervise at home due to a penchant for being a tad over enthusiastic with soap. More civilised at preschool (aren’t they always!)

Sorry I just read he isn’t going to school until NEXT September. You have absolutely ages!

Help him to get dressed independently and use cutlery. Recognise him name, use the toilet, and putting on shoes.

Teachers spend a lot of time unteaching what well meaning parents do.

I started programming toilet breaks/food breaks at about the same time as the school so the body clock was fairly stable by the time school started. Include wakeup and breakfast in this. Ensure food is eaten sitting in one place and a proper drink is drunk.

Worked well for us.

He is able to dress himself and often insists on doing so (‘I do it mySELF mummy!’) but does need a bit of help with getting feet into trousers, making sure things aren’t the wrong way round and so on.

Toileting is a real challenge, just doesn’t seem to be taking to it very well. It’s good that I don’t need to be going anything too formal with him. We listen to songs with the months of the year, alphabet and so on so he knows those and he recognises numbers and can count. And we read a lot too which is important. Just really have to crack the toileting … I guess I’m wondering really what happens as they turn four, is this when a concept of time and seasons and months and so on is really understood?

My reception teacher mum has always said focus on parenting independent life skills and don’t worry about reading, writing etc

be quite child led really - if they’re interested in months then maybe go for a walk and talk about seasons, especially now with ducklings and cygnets near us for example
practise independent skills like going to the loo, getting dressed, feeding self. Encourage an enjoyment of books and mark making.
Play/go shopping with coins! It’s a really interesting one as coins are disappearing IRL but they’re so so useful for learning maths.

loads of outdoor play and physical movement to get all muscles growing :-)

there is a list of early years goals which you could look at

Sounds like you're doing well and it's great you're trying to support him in preparation for life and getting ready for school. Obviously I appreciate you don't want to worry about toilet issues at school, but if he's likely to have accidents at school, he won't be the only one. The best thing you can do is leave an extra set of clothes or at least some pants on his school peg and let teacher know - that'd be a great help as our school often runs out, and either way you know they fit him properly.

At our school, they don't do much in the way of obvious PE in the first couple of terms - they might practice ball throwing, using playground equipment, dancing to music, all done in school clothes, so he's got a good few months to perfect putting on trousers.

Just adding to my above, reading out loud, reading out loud, reading out loud to him.

Short stories, picture books, long stories with a chapter at a time.

Cannot be emphasised enough.

However, @3and4 you seem to be doing a great job. We got a lot of fun from this https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/17159213

Just have fun and go with their interests. Work on motor skills, big and small. Get the foundations in place and the reading and writing etc will come.

Mine were pretty good with all the academics at that age but struggled more with self care and social skills, all children are different in their milestones.

A teacher at my boys school was telling us about the results of a long range study that concluded that children who had been regularly read to, leapt ahead quickly in their own reading skills once they learned to read and irrespective of how advanced other children became, they never fully closed the gap.

So, don't worry about teaching them to read, but do read to them so they understand how books work, how stories develop and just for the sheer language exposure and enjoyment.