To feel so stressed about ds starting primary school in a couple of weeks

[schoolstressesinaugust]

I feel like I want to have done the best by him and feel like I’ve failed. He doesn’t recognise numbers or letters, can’t write his name or recognise it eg on a peg. He isn’t 100% with toileting; won’t always say he needs to go.

Hopefully it isn’t just us, but I feel like I should have done so much more with him.

Don’t worry too much! You have recognised these things and you know to raise them with his teacher. I’d imagine by Christmas you’ll look back and wonder why you were so concerned!

My DD is 14 now.
I barely managed to teach her to countvto 10 before starting school. She couldn't recognise letters or numbers, wouldn't talk at nursery... but was a very happy little girl.

I'm not going to lie... it was hard. At the end of Reception she was still on "pink" books (the first level). She couldn't do Yr2 SATs...

But now... shes 14, just starting her GCSEs/BTechs. Top set for Maths, doing 3 Science gcses in space of 2, hs represented the school at sport, appears in the School musicals... (and will pass her English GCSE with a lot of hard work as she still struggles with reading and writing).

The point of this essay... you can't look atva 4yo and know the future. He might be a bit behind with some things when he starts... and he might be absolutely brilliant at others. He may pick things up quickly or struggle. His progress won't be linear... there might be a massive leap forward at some point, or he might not seem to be progressing at all sometimes. But all the time they are learning and growing.

School is the next great adventure. This time next year you will probably be wondering what was so scary (but something else will get scary... like is he ready for a Beaver sleepover at 6, or wanting to play out with friends at 8 or 9, or the first date in his teens...)

Helpful.

I wouldn't worry about the numbers/letters.

Perhaps you could start to follow the school routine with toileting e.g make sure he goes in the morning, at break time, lunchtime etc. Teach him he just needs to try at these times.

I'd also focus on making sure he can get his own shoes on and off, do up his coat etc. Put his name on things so he sees it but don't make a huge deal.

I think boys especially are often lazy and it's amazing what they can actually do when they don't have mum there/a bit of peer pressure.

It will even put quick enough.

As long as he's happy don't over analyse your time with him. I'm sure you've done plenty together and enjoyed it.

My kid has had two years or nursery and couldn't do any of these this starting. Hes still a baby his academic learning is only starting.. my DD still gets the alphabet wrong going into P1 he will be fine. So long as hes loved happy and healthy these things will come ❤️

Work on. the toilet issues. The teachers are not there for this. At school spending time on.this will detract from.. teaching and learning. Try not to transfer your worries onto him.

That’s why they go to school lol if they knew all this before they went, what would be the point in going? You will be surprised how quickly he comes on. Couple of weeks into reception and my daughter came home and was reading her own reading book! School will guide you on how to support with reading and writing at home too.

I bet loads still have the odd accident, especially if they are focused on something else, just pack spare clothes. This will stop anyway as he will realise it’s not the “socially done thing” to wee at school.

Oh go away will you! It’s not like he’s still in nappies! All kids have accidents and if you think otherwise your deluded

Even fully trained kids have accidents at school when they start, it's a completely new environment.