To ask how you are preparing your preschooler for school?

[SomeoneYouLove]

This really.

My daughter is 4 and will start school in August. She goes to nursery three days per week. She can write her name. She knows her letters etc but I don’t push her in terms of reading and writing.

She’s keen to learn to read as she loves her books but I haven’t made any attempt to teach her. I know less than nothing about teaching small children how to read. Should I be doing this?

I don’t do much writing with her but she will do it herself to an extent. Should I be working harder at this?

Should I be buying those wipe-clean number books?

I don’t want to. She’s just small and she has a life of school ahead of her and that’s not what I want to spend time doing with her right now. I will of course read, write etc with her when the time comes.

But it seems that other parents are doing all of the above. Am I holding her back by not doing this? Will she start off behind everyone else?

She’ll be fine. But if she wants to read, teach her. Reading is fun, not something for “when the time comes”.

My child is pre-school age and I am teaching her to read because I think she’ll like it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s not that I don’t want to. I don’t know how. I don’t want to end up confusing the life out of her and making it harder when she does start school l. I’d love her to learn to read.

I wouldn’t bother, enjoy the time with her before she starts school. Pre school are really good at preparing them. My dd went to school unable to read, write (apart from her name) and is now completing year 1 and is doing brilliantly, absolutely flying- a fluent reader and can now write.
My ds starts school in September and can not talk fully, can not hold a pen and is still in nappies. He has learning difficulties and ASD but he will get there in his own time and with the right support.

Nothing. I answer dd's questions about letters/numbers etc and play games and read to her daily but i'm not actively teaching her anything academic. I'm focussing on makjng her independent eg not dropping something on the floor and leaving it, being able to get dressed from a messy pile of clothes rather than stuff out the right way, how to not need constant adult input

Start with words that sound like simple amalgamations of letters: dog, cat, mum, dad, bum.

Teach her how letters of the alphabet correspond to sounds (‘a’ not ‘A’) and then sound the words out. She’ll get it.

Make sure she can dress herself and put socks on.

the advice ive heard (only heard as my LO is only just about to turn 2)- is that it's more important to get them practically ready. Able to use the bathroom by themselves etc.

To prepare for school, you don't need to do writing.

You need to get her to be able to:

• put her own shoes on
• turn her coat / jumper the right way around
• ask for help from an adult when needed
• concentrate for 10 minutes
• wait whilst someone else is talking
• listen to instructions and try to follow them
• eat with cutlery (assuming school dinners)
• manage own packed lunches, eg opening yoghurt (packed lunches)
• wash her hands after using toilet
• take turns and not snatch
• keep hands and feet to herself

@SomeoneYouLove

Are you in Scotland? I am and my DC starts school in August...theyll be 5 at end of June.

My DM is a retired primary teacher (mainly P1 and infants) and her advice, after 40 years of teaching, is to do very little by way of writing etc. She thinks children should learn to socialise, play and make friends before school. She always said a blank canvas was the best for starting school. She did say, however, that counting to 5 and knowing the properties of numbers to 5 (I.e can you count me out 5 sweets?) was helpful.

Other than that, let children have fun and learn to play and make friends!

Then basic sight words: look, ball, book. Focus on words with only one pronunciation (avoid words like where/were/we’re).

She’ll be well on her way.

I do agree with getting them ready practically but defo not academically

Don't worry about reading and writing.

Getting dressed and undressed (including turning things the right way out and folding clothes in a neat pile), eating with cutlery, going to the toilet independently, recognising her belongs, asking for help - that's all the important stuff.

I have a friend who is a teacher and she says well meaning parents and nurseries can sometimes make her job harder because they teach differently to how the school does. That means there has to be some retraining to get the child back in step with their peers.

I know from my own experience that I taught my oldest to write his name. When he started school, the children were taught cursive letters right from day 1 so he had to relearn how to write the letters in his name.

re the above.

Imagine you are a teacher. Would you rather a class full of children who have been taught to write by their parents (but not necessarily correctly in the way the school will do it), or a class full of children who can get coats and gloves on quickly for playing outside?

I don't really understand how she's learning to write but not read.

I have a child in reception and one going into reception and we were told to just focus on language and dressing and independence. I am a teacher myself so from personal experience I think play and early concepts are most important.

I'm trying to get him to wipe his own bum and get dressed and undressed himself with varying degrees of success. Everything else is just if he asks. We have wipe clean books and activity books we take if we go out for a meal as he enjoys them for 3 minutes but we don't force anything.

As others have said, focus on the practical things. Can she open her packets by herself if she's having a packed lunch? Can she put her clothes on? Fasten her shoes? Put her coat on? Wipe her bottom?

If she wants to learn 'academic' things, follow her lead and encourage her but don't worry about getting her to a certain point.

School nursery nurse here! Please please focus on self care and social skills. Doing up coats, cardigans etc Putting on shoes, pe kit and lots of opportunities to mix with other children and to develop the ability to share toys and space!
We love a 'blank canvas' Each school will have a particular phonics programme etc that they will follow.
If I had a £1 for every child who started school being able to 'read & write' but who couldn't do their zip up or wipe their bottom.....

DD2 goes into P1 in Aug. So far:

Getting into uniform
Taking uniform off
Getting into PE Kit
Taking PE Kit off
Hygiene in the loo
Packing school bag
Preparing own snack in tub
Opening/closing water bottle to refill
Putting on jacket & zipping up
Putting on shoes and doing the Velcro
Taking turns when playing a game
Saying sorry
Asking to join in with play
Listening when asked to play
When it is ok to say No
The pants rule

Having worked in education for many years I would say that getting them ready practically is much better than trying to teach them how to read, write or do sums. It is all very well being able to write a sentence or read a simple book but if that same child can't open their yogurt, get the lid off the tupperware box at lunch or get undresses and dressed quickly for PE then it's not much use.

Yep it all about going to the toilet by themselves, taking it in turns, queuing, getting changed, eating unaided, listening, not fidgeting, social skills. Teachers would be v happy if all those starting could do the lists pp have posted. focus on that.

Same as others, we've been focused on the practical stuff. So getting coat and shoes on, flushing the loo and washing hands without being reminded, introducing herself and asking if she can join in with games, taking turns, all of those things.

She's very keen on writing but I'm mindful the school will teach her to form letters properly so I don't want to teach her the wrong way! She can recognise letters and read simple CVC words and recognise high frequency words like "the" but that's just because she's a bookish sort of child - I haven't been specifically teaching her.

I'm trying to work on her confidence with trying new things and generally giving things a go and not being worried about getting things "wrong" as she can struggle with this...

Your DC sounds similar to mine. Trying to encourage practical stuff here too. There is a reluctance to wipe her bottom and wash her hands so I go on about it and she hates putting socks on so again I make her do it. Pre school are good with life skills tho-they make their own lunch at ours.

Being able to tell an adult if another child has hit/kicked/pushed you etc. I agree, good loo behaviour and clothing.