What skills will you equip your Y6 child with this summer before they start secondary?

[Acunningruse]

DS's transition days went really well, but it still feels like such a jump! I am thinking things like:

• Play out with friends in our village (DS already does this)
• Be able to go to the shop (in our village) and buy something by himself
• Practice getting on buses together, building up to taking the bus on his own
• Basic cooking skills (currently at toast level 😂)
• Some writing every day (maybe a holiday diary)

What will you be doing with your Y6s to get them ready for "big" school?

DD's new school runs a summer challenge for the kids to complete various free activities over the summer and record them in a journal, as an artwork etc. I'll be encouraging her to do that. She's also very bad at spelling so I've got the word lists from KS2 and will be practicing them with her over the holidays.

Set a limit for lunch money and stick to it. If they burn £20 in two days (looking at you DD) then it doesn't reset to the next week and they can forage from home.

Take a water bottle, don't waste money on bloody Radnor Spring which all the y7s did in the beginning.

Learn the route to / from school and practice
Beforehand.

Summer after y6 mine were allowed into town with their friends, first couple of times I went in with them and then they could go off on their own.

Going for a bike ride / to the park independently.

I would but couldn't because the road is a nightmare send them off to the local shop independently.

Oh bless 😁.

• Boil a kettle successfully.
• Wash stains off clothes before putting them in washing machine.
• Learn to prep a simple meal, e.g. boil spaghetti.
• Make own bed properly.
• Time-keeping.

Why would you be making g a huge fuss about something that was nothing to do with your child? Unfortunately this is a day to day occurrence in secondary schools up and down the country. School leadership will be dealing with those involved and the last thing tbeu need is other parents sticking their oar in making a huge fuss.

My yr7 friends child has struggled with the Snapchat and whattapping that goes on. Swearing (obviously) but more the 'stick your fucking fingers into your fucking c**t' type swearing. Hard core porn shared on these groups daily by boys and girls, memes from porn or extremely violent images.

I'm a grown up, I can handle that shit, but if I was bombarded with that constantly day and night I'd struggle.

Definitely do this. My DS spent £60 in his first two weeks of year 7. We had A Chat. Better year 7 lunch money than his student loan, I suppose.

If they can take a phone in instal an app that puts the phone in silent do not disturb mode for school hours plus a few extra minutes that way they don't have to remember to turn it off or on.

Make them more aware of their surroundings. Is anyone following them? Teach them that no adult asks a child to help them look for their lost dog or load something into a car. Teach them to say no and not people please. They can practise this with you and with a mirror so they can do a worried face and then a confident face. Also the puzzled face and a "yeah, whatever" comment to anyone who tries to belittle them. Learn breathing techniques for when they are worried.

If they need help go into a shop or ask a Mum with children with them. So basically making decisions about safer options.

If they are letting themselves into an empty house, key in the door, unlock, remove key open the door, shout hello, put it into the lock on the inside, lock the door and then turn off the house alarm.

Definitely check their messages and to not go along with nastiness toward another child. We called it being a Neville (Longbottom from Harry Potter, standing up to your friends is hard)

And lastly get them to solve problems at home, let them work things out rather than telling them what to do.

Use of public transport, walking to and from primary until end of term, emergency bus fare at the bottom of their bag, sorting out their own bag ... and learning to work to a timetable

Coughs and colds and tears and confusion and exhaustion all to be expected in the first term! We are just finishing our first year at high school and all in all my dd has loved it.She has grown in independance and height, I have become that embarrassing mum,her periods have started and its been an eventful year but a fantastic one. Try to be prepared all you like, the kids will be great, the shocks along the way seem to throw the parents more than the kids!!! I wish everyone who is going into Year 7 all the very best and the parents..well we will endure too with a mix of fascination and trepidation! Apologies for being totally off topic.