Advice on what else I need for DD to be school ready.

[Outandabout43]

DD starting reception in September. Have just finished the school shop, or so I think.

We have -
5 polo shirts
1 jumper
1 cardigan
2 pinafores
2 skirts
Tights
Socks
2 PE shorts
2 PE joggers
2 PE shorts
1 PE jumper
Plimsolls
School shoes
Bag
Bento lunch box
Drinks bottle

All items labelled.

DD has only recently turned 4 so still very young, so far she is

Toilet trained
Able to use a knife and fork
Can dress / undress herself (unable to do small buttons or laces)
Can spell, recognise and write name.

Is there anything else I need to buy, or work on woth her ready for school?

Very anxious first time parent 😬

Show her how to open her lunch box.

All sounds good to me. I don't think there's anything to add.

How messy an eater is she? One of mine started at 4 and could easily wear just one jumper all week and it look fine, the other is going into year 4 and still needs a clean jumper every day as it's always good food stains on it.

More cardigans or jumpers. Make sure they’re labelled.

Most things are school specific, have you joined the class what’s app group and asked for advice. Many parents will have older sibilings at that school and can give specific advice.

She sounds like she’s doing great. At this age I would just be encouraging lots of gross and fine motor play activities. They’re the foundation skills for classroom readiness.

Can she advocate for herself to adults other than you?

Can she wipe her bum?

Go over the importance of hand washing again.

Does she need hair ties in school colours?

Keep her nails short to avoid worms 🤢

Depends on the school and how they do dinners but confident to say what she wants out of a couple of different food options and able to carry a plate of food from the kitchen to the dining room or wherever your eating could be useful. Also being able to open things like crisp packets, open straw and put it into little orange juice box etc. Knowing that when you get changed for PE you don't change your underwear. Being confident to ask to go to the toilet and knowing to wash and dry hands. Just some ideas but sounds like you've already got her very school ready.

Mine needed more jumpers in reception (especially dc2). They get them wet, paint on them etc.
Also teach her when taking clothes off for pe to pop her uniform in pe bag so when she comes back to it it's all there (and not taken by another child).

I think those self help skills are great. Quite a few parents panic and try to get their children to count, recognise letters and numbers etc which is great but being able to dress/undress themselves and go to the toilet is far more important.

I'd add being able to:
Blow/wipe her nose
Follow simple instructions
Ask for help when she needs it
Wait for her turn if she wants to ask an adult something but they're talking to someone else

Awareness of rhyme, rhythm and being able to distinguish between different sounds will lay the foundation for reading and writing. No need to actually teach her anything, just lots of singing and nursery rhymes.

Fine motor skills will help with writing so toys with fiddly bits (lego etc), sticker books.

Gross motor skills and shoulder strength also help with writing. Easy to develop by using lots of different playground equipment at the park.

Being able to use scissors is useful.

Putting on and taking off her coat without help

Definitely more jumpers and cardigans! DD had a clean one every day as they got dirty from food/sand/water etc etc. And they will get left behind/lost for days at some point.

Also be prepared for them to just want to wear a certain item constantly i.e. pinafores over skirts. I did the same as you last year and bought two of each and by half term, DD said she found skirts uncomfortable and annoying (couldn't get them to sit right after the loo) so converted completely to pinafores for the rest of the year!

Coat (raincoat for summer, warm for winter) plus hat, gloves etc.

I recommend gettingots of plain navy/black gloves as they go walkabout!

Mine only had two jumpers each (no cardigans). DS rarely wore his anyway.

Try to get two days out of at least one polo shirt each week so you can put one aside for special occasions like school photos day. If it isn’t till November, you may have stains on all of the other four by then!

Make sure she can take off the uniform, put on her pe kit then take off pe kit and put on uniform without you touching the uniform in between. No turning the inside out sleeves back the right way or similar.

@Outandabout43

you've done really well!!

some of the above suggestions are great.

id put top of the list being confident to speak to any adults. Whether she needs the toilet, help with some or whatever. Bring as confident as possible making choices, whether it's lunch or which book etc, the teacher doesn't have hours for all the kids to dither over things like at home. ( practice her making choices & speaking to people in shops.cafes etc)

Definitely being able to do her own shoes & coat.

Clothes in PE Bag, not needing to change her underwear (that's a great kne I'd forgotten about!!)

however, things I wouldn't do are getting more uniform, wait & see what her preferences are. No point in buying more jumpers if she only wants to wear a cardigan.

it's not like you won't be able to get any in a few weeks!

buy winter stuff later, same reason.

But what you have already taught her will be much more than many parents. Well done you!!

More cardigans/jumpers. Lots of hair scrunchies, elastics if she has longer hair. Make sure that it is tied up to help to try and avoid headlice. Will you be collecting her after school or will she be going to after school club? Explain this to her so that she knows to expect you or what will happen when lessons end and when you will be picking her up.

This sounds great OP. Make sure she is confident asking to go to the toilet. She won’t be prompted like at nursery.

What do you say when you need to go DD?

I’d say ‘please Mrs/Mr XXX, may I go to the toilet?

well done DD!!

I had a shy one and we had to practice this

Mine doesn't need plimsols but needs trainers. Make sure you are checking your school website as it will say whats needed.

Rellaaxxxxx.

Your anxiety will funnel into your child.. it's starting school, and I mean this in a kind way, just relax.

There's nothing you can't buy from a supermarket or Amazon if and when it arises. You don't need to think of any purchase/scenario right now. There's still lots of time left so enjoy your summer.

I'm only saying this because your first post says you're anxious.

This. And more jumpers/cardigans. And more name labels.

Label everything everywhere.

*every

Can she -
Take turns/play cooperatively

Fasten her coat

Wipe her bum

Tell an adult her needs/if something is wrong.

A good tip I got on here was to buy spare jumpers in the next size up - handy in case the others all get dirty and if they don't get a lot of use you can use the year after.

I keep nit shampoo in the bathroom because if / when they get it I don't want to be going anywhere! The date lasts ages.

Water bottle name band (a rubber one) is useful and a clothes name stamper.

You need more jumpers and cardigans as the sleeves will undoubtedly be used in lieu of tissues for the permanently runny nose your DC will get.

Also lots of hair bobbles, clips, headbands in school colours.

As a reception bod, 👏👏. Extra points for the labelled water bottle!

She can do zips on coats / jackets and open packets and pots.

Tha you for the great tips, she does struggle still woth taking turns and sharing and also think she needs to work on her confidence more as she can be quite shy and not ask for things when needed.

I know they get free school meals but wpuld it be better to send her with a lunchbox for the first couple of weeks or go straight to hot lunches.

The school she is going to stays in PE kit all day so luckily don't need to worry about the changing after PE bit.