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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Preparing for reception- tips on practical stuff please!

11 replies

glitterkitty · 22/01/2011 22:59

DS will start reception in September. Reading another thread made me think that I ought to be preparing him as much as possible to start school- not 'learning' stuff but more practical things, so that he can look after himself.

My list of things to try and teach him is as follows:
Getting own coat on & done up
Ditto shoes
Wiping bum
Getting fully dressed
Using knife & fork

Any more? Or ideas how to get him to do the above?

I'm most worried about teaching him to wipe his bottom- I cant think how to get him started without him falling in!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MrsGravy · 23/01/2011 07:55

I think that just about covers everything! Oh, we were also told to try and make sure they recognise their name.

I would actually just try and make it all as easy as possible for him. So, big buttons are easier to do up than a zip. Velcro shoes rather than lace ups. Clothes that are easy to dress himself in i.e. elasticated trousers rather than ones with a zip and a button. In fact, in reception I used to send DD in to school in school-colour jogging bottoms and trainers on the days they had PE - the school were fine with this.

Teaching them bum wiping is easier with those flushable wipes to start with, and my kids stand up to wipe (very controversial on mumsnet apparently!!) so no danger of falling in!

I really wouldn't worry too much though, it's a long time til September and they can grow up so much over the course of a few months. Also I think the teachers will be happy with kids who are doing all those things to some degree rather than perfectly - I'm sure they expect to help a bit with doing up coats/getting dressed etc.

RoadArt · 23/01/2011 08:15

Show him where you have labelled his clothes. Make it the same place on everything, all the time, for example at the bottom left side of shirt, jumper etc. Labels can aggrevate so they need to be located where they wont irritate the skin.

In addition, make a mark on your clothes that will be identifyable as yours when some other parent removes the labels

Your list is good, dont stress him out before he starts school though.

Getting dressed and undressed quickly is really important because the teacher doesnt have time to deal with 30 kids and still get on with whatever activity they are doing.

sparkle12mar08 · 23/01/2011 11:33

Using a tissue to wipe and or blow their nose is also a good one to have on your list.

bluegiraffe · 23/01/2011 12:18

MrsGravy, my DD (3) stands up to wipe ... so do I for that matter ... never have thought it controversial!! ;-)))

JiltedJohnsJulie · 23/01/2011 13:24

How about looking at the school menu, nearer the time obviously and talking about what he would choose for his lunch?

Though really I think you've got everything covered.

bobala · 23/01/2011 16:37

for bottom wiping good practice method is to try passing a ball between his legs back and forward as it helps the idea of doing something behind you you cant see. as a teacher the best help for me is independent things like shoes, coats and clothes. But be reassured we will help them for as long as they need it - I still have those I am undoing and doing up shirt buttons for, coat zips and plimsoll straps. I think its more they like to feel all grown up once they get to 'big' school.

angelgabrielsmum · 23/01/2011 18:03

loads covered here, we did a similar thread mid last year for all the starters in Sep 2010...I'll wander off to find the thread

angelgabrielsmum · 23/01/2011 18:11

Here it is..think there's also some links back to previous years including the lovely idea of kisses in pockets which we did with great success
4 months on DS is managing to do the bum wiping, getting dressed etc with no problems, a year ago I would have that he would be able to!

giveitago · 23/01/2011 20:32

Ohg started a link like this last year and you've pretty much covered the concerns. And yes, I remember the kisses in the pockets which was the loveliest thing I'd ever heard!

Depends on school - my ds couldn't do up coats etc so I made it as simple as possible (his school doesn't have uniform) so he was in jogging bottoms for a while just ot make things easier.

I'd say he's at a very relaxed school. DS still cannot use a knife at lunch - but he's pretty much picking things up as he goes along.

Happiness is the most important thing (imo).

UniS · 23/01/2011 20:37

make sure they will eat what ever you have chosen for them to eat at lunchtime. Tis painfull to watch a child who doesn't like cold lunch weeping into his sandwiches.

OP- good basic list.

DreamTeamGirl · 23/01/2011 22:12

The bum wiping I delegated to my ex, as I had NO idea how boys wipe LOL

With getting dressed and undressed, I got my DS to undress each night and showed him how to 'fold' his clothes into a neat(ish) pile and he really liked that- touchwood we havent lost ANY clothes since he started and he is in Y1 now

Oh and I bought a stamp from able labels, and on top of stamping the back of his polo shirts, I also stamp the inside front bottom, so he can look down and check he has the right one on

Writing their first name is REALLY useful, but at a minimum recognising it is a good start.

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