Preparing for school

[mamamalt]

Apologies if this has been done to death but I am after some ideas for preparing my DS (4) for school in September.
We have an awful lot going on at the moment, move to new country, new house and new baby due next month so my own mind is drawing blanks. I would like to make most of youngest nap time to spend some one on one time with him to get prepared for big school!
I guess I don't mean reading and writing stuff as he's fine with all that but maybe the kind of general mental preparation!? Maybe I'm over thinking...! But any help or advice is more than welcome! I feel guilty and like he's flying under the radar with everything else that's going on!

Thank you!

Read books together about starting school/being at school. There are loads of good books which cover things like what a school is like, what you might do, what it might look like. Some are stories of fiction with animals as class mates some are more realistic with photos etc Help him get his expectations set up for change in a positive way. Mine are 8+10 now so can't remember which ones we used but the library was a great source (don't know what country you're in though) I think giving him opportunities to meet children he doesn't know (if possible) and reading books is all you need. Physically he'll need to be able to put his own coat and shoes on and use the toilet without help.

My Reception colleagues would tell you that for him to be able to dress/undress himself, use cutlery, be independent in the toilet, manage buttons/zips etc is invaluable. Of course there will be adults to help once he starts, but the more who can do things for themselves, the better.
Also, to be able to share and take turns is good.

BBC bitesize have a little interactive game for primary school starters, to help them understand what it will involve. www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zhtcvk7/articles/znc9vk7

If you google you will be able to find a list of practical skills which he will need like putting on coat and shoes, managing the toilet by himself. Ceebies has a great range of TV programmes about starting school and I found the Janet and Allan Alhberg to be best book about starting school.

M&S sell shirts which have a sticky Velcro collar fastening which is good for young children.

Taking his clothes on and off especially trousers and shoes. Just don't worry. Make sure he knows what a big boy he is going to school and how much fun he is going to have.

Once you're living in the are where he'll be going to school, get him out to play in local playgrounds, so he gets to know faces he'll meet again at school, as he won't be going from a nursery with a cohort of other pupils. Agree about the coat, clothes, cutlery, using the loo etc. things. My DS was 4 + 3 weeks when he started reception. The teacher moaned her needed help to fasten his coat. With Covid, staff even sent letters out stating they couldn't help reception kids open lunch items (yoghurts etc.) or water bottles, so anything you can do towards independence in the day will help.

Do things with hands a lot. They're going to learn how to write. Drawing, playdough..... being comfortable with counting up to twenty