To ask for tips for 4yos starting school in September

[CherryChasingDotMuncher]

My DD is starting reception next month, she's more than ready (and very excited) for school, but not sure we are

We've got most things in terms of uniform, bags etc, but what are the best tips for preparing you and your child for school? Only thing I'm really doing is getting her to practice undressing and re-dressing for when she does PE. Thought it would help a lot of parents if we had some good tips from parents who've been there!

Tuck a spare pair of knickers and socks in a ziplock bag into her bag. Just in case.

And always keep the water bottle in an outside pocket, away from books!

The hardest thing I had was trying to get them to remember what to bring home at the end of the day. I made a song up to the tune of Head Shoulders Knees and Toes called cardigan, bookbag, drink and snack to make sure she remembered what to bring home each day. It worked really well. Oh and label EVERYTHING.

One of mine was 4 plus 1 month when she started school.
She didn't speak to anyone for a few weeks and was exhausted.
She will still mention that now when speaking to littler kids.

I did nothing other than cuddle her after school. We did games to do her extra work. I expected less from her given that her grip and fine motor skills were less developed than other kids.
She caught up during the early years but I tried to not pressure her or compare.

Reception children have to change from uniform to pe clothes?
My dc go to school in their pe tracksuit on the days they have pe. They are young children so don't sweat like pre teens/teens/adults.
What's the reason for this?

I'm not sure pedro, it was advised by the school that they learn it

These are so useful I'm making a list tonorrow of things to prep

Basic manners go a long way. I always notice the polite children in a class, the ones who say please and thank you and know how to apologize (I'm sorry X and look them in the eye, as opposed to a grunted sorry said looking the other way). Practically, ability to dress and undress, take shoes on and off, recognize own names with the aid of a picture, open own water bottle and lunch container, use a knife and fork, fasten own coat, put on own gloves and hat.

Label her coat and cardigan/jumper in a easy place. I always do the inside of the cuff with an iron on label. Makes it easier for her when they've all got the same.

Make sure she knows what her coat and shoes look like. "It's black" doesn't help in the cloakroom.

Also don't forget to label her shoes and her school bag as someone is bound to have the same.

If she's a little unsure on left & right then mark the inside of her shoes so she can tell. I always put two arrows and they know if they are touching >< then it's the right way round.

Invest in a good, warm, waterproof coat. It ALWAYS rains at pick up time. Classes are late out and mornings and winter pick ups are cold and damp!

Social skills, please, thank you etc.

Recognition of name.

Have more than one water bottle. Name it.

Name everything including underwear.

Get everything ready the night before. Including shoes, bag, coat by front door.

School mornings = no TV till their washed, dressed, had breakfast, hair done, shoes on. Aim to be ready 15-20 minutes before you have to leave.

Have plenty of tops. With lunch, painting, playing they come home very messy. I get 5x tops and wash/iron and put on 5 hangers all uniform for each school day for the following week including pants, socks, tights etc. It's then all done for the week ahead.

Put a spare set of pants etc in their bag incase of accidents.

Get organised! School demands time from parents as well as children.

Meet their teacher so they know who you are. If you need to talk to teachers do it before or after the school day. Or write a note to them.

Check their bag every night. If they have slips to sign etc do it there and then.

Get to know the other parents. Parties are a good opportunity to do this. Have a present box, buy stuff on offer or at the end of isles. Reception is a party a weekend kind of class. Prepare for having your weekend taken up with parties.

Have a drink and snack ready for pick up. Expect them to be starving. Put them to bed early. They will be shattered for a while and tired children are difficult grumpy children.

Ease up a bit on them. It's tough being good all day and adjusting to such a big change. Spend time just reassuring them and getting them into a routine. They will be naughty at home.

Prepare for children in need, world book Day, Christmas, red nose Day, and any other random "dress your kids up" kind of day.

Get a big sticker. Cut in half and put the right side in the right shoe, left in the left shoe. Means they've just got to match the sticker to get shoes on right feet.

Echo all the above and also tiredness. It's not a factor of time it's having to be aware of what you're doing all day.

The other thing I would add is practice a few playground games together. Stuck in the mud, it (using various TV characters e.g. You're sky, you're Zuma, he's rubble), mummies and daddies... all seem to be quite popular.

Reinforce a few social skills - taking turns, sharing, looking out for kids who are unhappy or on their own and giving them a hug etc.

prsctice telling her about your day so that she will be encouraged to tell you about hers.

Ask what she is worried about and give her a little mantra to remember for the term. For example be kind, listen and ask for help. Keep saying it every day

DD started lasted September and yes as others have said she wouldn't tell me anything when I first picked her up from school.

I then read something about not asking them immediately and leaving it until later on in the evening, it which was more successful.

When we pick her up now we just say "missed you/did you have a good day"

We then ask what she did etc when we are having our dinner.

It gives her time to chill out, rest her brain, rather than an onslaught of questions immediately at 3.15pm !

From my point of view when I finish work I don't immediately want someone asking me how my day was etc either.

We kept to this for the rest of the school year and we got much more feedback back.

Just another thought, lots of schools have the term calendar online already. Ours do.

Also, when term starts some publish the menu online so you can see what kids have had and make sure they don't get pizza for lunch and dinner!

As dates appear on the school newsletter or website add them to your diary, especially if you are working, then you can plan time off for the school play etc.
Try not to hang around on first day, weeping parents make anxious children.
Make sure you have the school phone number in your phone, so if they call you you recognise the number.
If you have updated any phone numbers since application tell the school.
Always check your child's book bag for letters.
Be the parent that returns all permission slips on time.

Pedro I think most reception children are expected to change into pe clothes and back. They're given extra time as it's obvious they won't be as quick as older children. OP, get ready for endless school texts /emails too, usually reminding you of something like dress up day or school trip money due the next day.

DS doesn't start reception til next September (when he would have only just turned 4) but this is useful.
He starts a nursery attached to a preschool in September (when he'll be just turned 3) and they want loads of this already! Like dressing and undressing, recognising own name, totally independent going to loo, wiping, washing hands etc so I've been panicking lately trying to get him ready but I might calm a bit. He's still only two at the mo, seems like such a tall order!

I work in a Reception class and the best thing I've found to replace "what did you do today?" is "what was your favourite thing about today?". My DCs were both exhausted for the first few weeks of Reception so after school activities and clubs were very low-key.

The ideas about getting dressed and undressed are brilliant; lots of my very new ones can't do this and it can help them feel more confident when they can, but we do help them, too, so don't panic if they still need a little support. And instead of labels or sharpies with names on I buy little buttons that click on; they're impossible to remove and mean that the DCs don't lose quite so much stuff.

The best tip I was ever given was that children mostly come out of school and you say what did you do today and they say don't know.
I was told to ask tell me three things about your day. Once they've told you one they remember more and more and they end up telling you loads.
I've done this with both of mine and even now at high school they will tell me loads about their day - sometimes phoning me at lunch to tell me!
Hope your lo enjoys his first few weeks, exciting times I look back on mine fondly

Buy a calender with pockets. Every letter, invite etc gets put in the month it happens. I always respond to invites them write on it responded and pop it in the pocket. Job done.

Get at least 5 shirts/polos if white and you don't do many white washes. They will get marked and binned anyways through the year so won't be a waste.

Early nights as they will be overtired for a few months. Everything ready night before.

Ask specific questions not just what did you do today. Did you write anything today, did you draw, did you do, anything with numbers, what games did you play at break time etc.

As others have said, asking questions such as

Who did the funniest thing today?
Who was really smiley today?
And my favourite...who did a loud fart today?

These always got good responses from my 2!

Rather than asking 'what did you do at school?' ask more specific questions, like 'did you do playing in the sand today?' 'Did you listen to a story?' 'Did you do some writing?' I get more from my 2.

Put spare pants and socks into the PE kit bag and explain to your DD what to do if she has an accident. Even my 'never has accidents' DD managed to not put the toilet lid up and get her bottom half wet. I was really quite proud when her teacher said 'she just appeared wearing her PE shorts, I don't know why' as DD just sorted herself out and carried on with the day.

I've got three in primary with the last one starting secondary next month - gulp!!!

For girls I've found black leggings and black socks work better than tights under dresses and skirts as well as being easier to take on and off. Avoid the ballet type show like the plague and go for something sturdier!

Take a photo using your phone camera of all party invites in case they go astray.

No after school activities until the spring term at least, the xmas term in particular is very gruelling and they get tired as well as poorly.

Obey all the school rules regarding illness/nits etc thus limiting the spread of the inevitable nasties Other parents will thank you!