What kids “should” know before starting school?

[Inyourwildestdreams]

DS is going into his pre-school year at nursery after the summer. He’ll start P1 (Scotland) at 4y 9m in Aug 25.

First child, no other children in the family and not many friends with kids the same age so appreciate any advice 😊

Starting to think about all the things he’ll be required to do more independently when he goes to school. Is there anything I should be making sure we work on at home to prepare him? I’m assuming nursery would flag any concerns but just wondering if there’s anything specific you’ve come across that it was/would have been handy for your LO to be able to do 😊

Currently at 3.5 he can dress himself (but struggles with tops), jacket on but not zip, he can do his own shoes on the correct feet if slip on or Velcro. He can use the toilet and wash hands independently but still needs help to wipe after a poop. I don’t think opening/unwrapping anything in a packed lunch would be an issue for him.
Not concerned about the academic side, more the practical day-to-day things that he’ll be required to do 😊

It was a while ago for my two. Recognising own name was one. They had their names on a peg and a tray.

Thank you 😊 I made sure he was able to do this for starting nursery in January. He has a very short name so has no problem recognising it or writing it.

In my experience school will help with all academic things but are keen to have children able to zip coat up, dress/undress for PE (if not going in in pe kit), manage own shoes and toileting. School don't wipe noses or faces after lunch so be prepared for that as they come out filthy for the 1st couple of terms. Well, mine did anyway.

Being independent with clothing is quite a big focus, as takes so much time to do any clothing task x30.

Being kind, taking turns, sharing

Recognising their name and ability to follow instructions with 2 parts ie get your wellies and go into the garden.

Recognise name, been able to dress himself and try to teach putting clothes neatly instead of throwing when taking them off. Reception class on pe day can be carnage with clothes getting mixed up. Please label everything with their name including coat and shoes, if labelled you stand a greater chance of it been returned.

Lots of good advice here, and not much to add.

However, one thing that often gets overlooked is if they're able to open their own water bottle. So check they're able to open and drink from the bottle they're going to take.

Using a knife and fork in case he decides to try school dinners one day. Also pour a cup of water from a jug.
Know how to ask for help when he needs it.
Have basic vocabulary surrounding his emotions.
Know how to blow his nose and throw the tissue away after.
How to put on coats or jackets and do the zip or buttons up.
Opening and closing their bag to put things inside it.
Being able to take shoes off and swap to welly boots and vice versa.

I'm a reception teacher! I would say these are some of the biggest 'practical' things which would benefit children when they start big school

This sounds a bit odd, but it's from my experience of working in nursery and reception. If he has several different hats (or gloves, or coats, or whatever), always use the same one for school. It makes it a lot easier for him and the teachers to know what they are looking for at hometime if he knows it's always 'the stripy one' and the teachers can remember what they have seen him wearing And as iggyace says, label everything.

Work on the bum wiping - the teachers won’t want to do that!

And yes to how to ask politely for help if he needs it. Maybe a few good ice breaker questions to start conversations with the other kids?

Otherwise sounds like he’ll be fine!

Thank you all 😊 Sounds like he’s on track then considering he still has another year to go. Nailing the final parts of getting dressed and wiping after the toilet are our plans for the summer 👍🏻

He had a really rough start with settling to nursery and getting used to a new environment so but is now LOVING it. I’m concerned that it could be the same moving into primary school so just hoping to have as much of the “practical” concerns nailed as possible so that he’s confident in all those things at least 🤞🏼😊