So am I meant to be DOING things in preparation for Big School in Sept.

[TheCountessOlenska]

DD is 4, very happy at pre-school. They have shown her how to recognise/write her name and are working with them on numbers / holding pen correctly etc. Plus they do loads of brilliant activities and projects with them.
At home, i read to her every night but apart from that we just play, chat and go to the park. I explain things to her when she asks and sometimes that's related to counting/ reading etc but we don't really spend any time of this kind of thing.
What is everyone else doing? Are you actually teaching your child to read for example?

No, I'm not. I'm letting my ds enjoy his last few months of freedom :-) I think that starting to try and teach anything would interfere with school as I'm unlikely to teach it in the same way. I'm confident that he's had a good start in preschool nursery - he can count to 20, has started copying his name etc - and I feel that's enough.

I'm not doing anything.
My logic is that he's going to be in formal education for at least the next 14 years (more if he goes to university). He has plenty of time.

He goes to preschool. He can write his name, count to 30, recognise numbers 1-10, recognise some letters (mainly the ones from his name). I think that's a good start. We read every day and will continue to do this.

The way I am trying to prepare him is by talking about big school (trying to sell it to him as this wonderful fun place where he's going to make friends, learn and play). We've also been talking about uniform, practising getting him to dress and remove his clothes himself in preparation for PE. He also has to take his own shoes on and off.

DS2 is reading pretty fluently now, but that wasn't a deliberate decision to teach him, he just started picking it up, blending the letter sounds he knew and wanting more, so we're going with that, purely at his pace, no pressure, and he is progressing really quickly.

DS1 wasn't reading before going to school at all though and he's a good reader. Some children just get it early but I don't think it has any bearing on how good a reader they will be a year or two down the line.

As far as preparing for big school, we're concentrating on practical things like getting dressed and undressed completely on his own, for PE and swimming, using cutlery for school dinners, that kind of thing. Far more important than reading/maths stuff!

I have started some really basic number and letter work although concerned I'm using the wrong method.

My reception teacher friend tells me the most important things are being able to get dressed and undressed for pe, and being able to open and eat unaided everything in their lunchbox (yogurt tubes etc).

Both of mine could read when they started because I taught them but it sounds like you're doing all the right things. Personally, in your position I'd be teaching your DD her letters and starting to blend in a fun way e.g. can I have a "k" "i" "s". I say this because she's clearly keen to learn so why not give her a head start. I know others will come on and completely disagree.

When my DS's started school most of the children had started to read a little and about a third read pretty fluently at about level 4-5. One was reading (but not understanding) Harry Potter (and his DM was very cross when he was put back onto the reading scheme). However it is a selective prep.

More important is can she put her clothes on, go to the loo on her own, hold her cutlery properly, put on her shoes, play nicely with others.

I've not done much educationally at all - he can recognise his name, letters, numbers, he can count etc. (but not not write - he is very anti anything arty and includes writing in that) thanks to playschool.

I've mainly been working on practical things - shoes, trousers, t-shirts (still working on that one, along with socks which are also a problem)

Oh.. and still the going to wee before he wets himself, even if he's busy doing something interesting.

Ds is in Reception and there was little expectation on reading/writing beyond being a bit familiar with letter sounds and recognising/writing your own name. I'd concentrate on practical things:

Can your dd get dressed and undressed?
Do her own shoes?
Eat with a knife and fork?
Put on her own coat and do it up?
Recognise her name?
Go to the loo by herself? Wearing tights?

Interesting, thanks all
She's pretty good at all that "life skills" kind of stuff.

Four year olds reading Harry Potter amazing! I can't wait for her to be able to read my childhood favourites...i can't honestly say she seems that interested though