My oldest daughter starts school in September, and over the last couple of months I've realised that I don't really know how well prepared she is.
I work part time, and she goes to a childminder 3 days a week, but has never been to nursery/preschool. We spend most of our time playing/baking/exploring etc, and I haven't focussed too much on formalised learning, but now I'm worried that was a mistake!
I know a couple of other parents with children the same age, but I've never really asked them what their child's specific abilities are as I don't want it to feel like a competition. However, it's clear that they are a bit ahead of my daughter in a few ways, and I'm worried that I've failed her by not sending her to preschool or properly preparing her for school!
She is potty trained and can dress herself independently, although sometimes needs help with buttons/shoes/zips.
She can eat with a fork and spoon, but struggles to use a knife properly unless for very soft things.
She is quite aware of other people and good at sharing, friendly to other people she knows, but shy with new people/situations. She does get easily upset when something unexpected happens or she can't have something she really wants. She doesn't tantrum any more, but it can take her a while to calm down.
She can write and read her name, recognise and sound out most of the alphabet, and write maybe half of the alphabet. She is starting to write and read three letter words. Only just starting to recognise sounds like 'sh' and 'th'.
She can recite numbers up to about 40, maybe count that far too, though never checked. She can write numbers up to 10 with prompts, but only recognise up to around 7. I've never attempted any sums.
She knows all the main colours and is starting to think about blending colours.
She can recognise and draw a circle, triangle, square and heart, but not any other shapes really.
She draws stick men with faces, hair and belly buttons, but doesn't normally do hands/fingers or clothes. She draws other things like her teddies, animals, houses, bikes, trees, which are just about recognisable!
Does this sound about right for starting reception? What kind of things were your children doing? Is there anything else that you would recommend we do with her before starting school? She definitely won't be the oldest, but her birthday is before Christmas so in the older half. I'm hoping that her friends are just a bit more advanced than average and there is nothing to worry about!