Tips on keeping a September born child occupied in the year before Reception

[evertonmint]

DD turns 4 this month. I nearly had her in August and she would then have gone to school this week. She's socially and academically comparable to many of her friends who start this time round (including many spring born children) but we have a whole other year to fill!

I am a bit worried that her nursery - which has now lost the older children she was working with - won't be able to keep her occupied for the whole year. The group she is in ranges from 2 to 4, she is the oldest and they have said that she is a fair bit ahead of the other children on many things, both socially and academic, as she largely identified/participated in activities with the school-bound children. It is probably only the last 4-6 months that this has become very apparent by which time other preschools round here that might in retrospect have been more suitable had filled their places.

She isn't a genius, I'm not claiming that, but she is bright and very motivated to learn (wants to do as her Y2 brother does).

So I'm looking from tips on people who have been there or who are in the same position? Apps, activities, resources etc. Should I be looking to move her for her final year given the make up of her nursery class?

We moved to school nursery at before 3 both times but were lucky that it had wrap around care 8-6 They started phonics and maths etc with those who were ready. All the private nurseries did not do this . I would look and check if any have last min spaces . Ours is a state school.

Our private nurseries were really great but with autumn children I felt that they kept to the majority age group etc hence we moved. Failing that I would ask them for an individual EYFS plan

I have a few children in my nursery who are really ready for school (academically and socially) but have a year to go. We'll be giving them increased responsibilities e.g. in preparing snack, running errands or helping others. We look at the next steps for all children individually so for these it'll be into writing words other than their name, beginnings of addition and subtraction and maybe beginning to read.

I do the same as JennyBlueWren.

My daughter was bored to tears with day nursery from about the age of three and half. She loved school nursery. Our school had mixed foundation stage so bright nusery children could start academic work as soon as they were ready.

This is a good maths app

onebillion.org.uk/apps

for phonics try www.starfall.com or oxfordowl.com

There are no school nurseries here sadly, just a variety of preschools of varying quality. I'd love one that brought in some of the academic work if they're ready

Most preschools/nurseries focus on being nurturing here, which is fantastic when younger or there full time but not so essential for my DD who is only there 2.5 days and doing well socially and academically now, and needing to be pushed.

I will try the greater responsibility thing at home - she has a 10wo brother so we get lots of "I'm the big girl, not the baby" comments. I think this could help build her confidence and maturity that bit more.

Will look at the apps too. Thank you!

I'm trying to think of other things she needs/will do in school beyond literacy and maths. I do a fair bit of creative stuff with her and she will always choose that herself so we're doing well on that. We discuss the world a lot too - countries, different food, how people live, animals etc. Probably model building, building blocks is something she does little of though and I remember DS doing a tonne of that in reception.

I suppose Science Museum type trips when I can will be great now she's got a good inquisitive mind developing too.

DS was spring born and a school start at 4.5 was perfect for him. DD will be 5 - a bit too old for reception I think given how she is now - and then I have a summer born to worry about in the opposite direction :)

Thanks for your help. Some useful thoughts and just posting this has helped me focus my thoughts too.

We have a junk collection box in our house and junk modelling is something they all seem to love - and yes they do lots of if at school nursery and reception. There are great ideas on line to. We collect small boxes, bottle tops, fruit netting, food cartons, pizza bases, silver fool etc - from these we get boats, rockets, cars etc
Science or any other museum is perfect. Near us they all do per school sessions

This was me 2 years ago (ds was 6 yesterday). With the added bonus of a 10 month old baby!!!! I have been known to describe that year as the worst of my life, but that was aggravated by the Amazing Non Sleeping Baby.

We swam a lot, and visited lots of museums/NT type places. Ds can get quite obsessive about something if it piques his interest - think we may have been to every museum in Yorkshire!

Bit of writing and basics sounds/phonics.

Lots of baking and cooking.

Did you check if any if the school nurseries or preschools had places come up? Often people drop out if their 3 year olds don't settle so they decide to defer etc. ours has several spaces by mid Sept

I have children of identical ages (DD, spring birthday) has just gone to Y2 and DS is 4 today! (He was supposed to be born end of Oct). I shared the same concerns re private nursery - ours was a very good nursery but the last year group encompassed age 2.5 to 4 and a lot of the 3 year olds left. DD didn't start school until the year she turned 5 and in the last 6 months, the nursery called her the class mother )

I have put DS in an FS1 class attached to a state primary school (he started on Friday last week). They seem to do a bit more structured play and start with the phonics/writing, in the school setting, he will move into reception at the same school next year, which is in a connecting room to FS1.

If FS1 isn't an option for you, alongside the nursery, I second previous posters saying foster/develop your DDs interests with museum trips etc, get to arts and crafts groups, or anything that involves exploring new things. DD did a pottery class, and a lot of baking etc at home. My DS's school asks them to have a go at writing their name each morning - you could do this at home, starting to hold pencil correctly etc. lots of reading books and recognising letters of the alphabet etc.

It's not easy watching other children almost the same age, seemingly a full year ahead, while your bright child is champing at the bit to get into 'proper school'! I console myself with the knowledge that my DS will (hopefully) be confident in himself and his abilities as one of the more capable ones, by virtue of his age when he eventually starts reception

Ladybird - good thinking. there are 2 preschools here that might work. They're all back this week so will give them a call.

Mydelilah - that's hugely helpful thanks! I know being the oldest is better than being the youngest bit it's so frustrating when so many parents have said she's more ready than their child who all start today. DD is a bit sad today - she wants to wear a uniform like them!

Look at schools other than the school where you want for reception too - as lots of children change schools for reception. They tend to be more teacher led in my experience and the 6 near us all have the school uniform and the DC think they are at school

Sadly the district/county council doesn't provide any school nurseries :( It would be perfect if they did.

Music? I'm nowhere near you, but I teach Wunderkeys Piano and have just finished training to teach Stringbabies (violin and viola, but it also exists for cello). Or Suzuki method on any instrument.

I've done Wunderkeys with children born on 5th September and on 28th August, both starting reception this year, and they move at different speeds and it occupies and interests the older children while helping the younger ones develop their literacy and numeracy without being too obvious about it. Stringbabies works in a similar way.

If you don't have a teacher of either nearby, you could ask a local piano teacher who takes fairly young children if he/she would be willing to try Wunderkeys. I swore blind I'd never teach younger than 7yo.

Music is a great idea. Thanks

Pinterest has some great ideas for sensory/ messy play which starts to introduce science ideas... We've done colour mixing with shaving foam and crushed up chalks, 'painting' with wet herbal tea bags and watching/ playing with coloured ice as it melts in water. All simple to set up and really good fun. Also recommend creating treasure maps with picture clues to explore your local area - great for problem solving/ exploring the world.

Thank you. I'm not on Pinterest but will take a look