What skills should my DS have when starting reception

[loueytb3]

And I'm not talking about reading/writing here. I'm really thinking of things like dressing/eating/self help skills etc

ie should he be able to do zips/buttons by the time he starts reception? What other skills are really important to try and teach DCs before school? Do the staff help with things like opening yoghurt pots at lunchtime/peeling bananas?

I'm new to all this and would like to try and prepare him as much as possible before he starts in September.

I've been planning for this too. So far I think the following are useful (although I'm sure a teacher will come along in a moment and be more helpful!).

• being able to dress / undress
• please / thank you / sharing with others
• recognise their name on a peg
• eat sensibly at the table (my DS has just sussed out how to open yoghurt pots after a fridge raiding incident ). He eats hot meals at nursery so is ok with cutlery.

I'm sure one of the schools mentioned things they like to see when we went for a look-round. Once you know what school he's going to you could call them.

It depends a bit on how the school operates, what the uniform is, how they do lunches etc but some or all of these -

get his coat off and hang it on a peg with his name on it (they sometimes have a picture instead, but recognising his name would help)

take off his outdoor shoes and put plimsolls on, and vice versa (go with Velcro if you can!)

change from uniform to PE kit and back - polo shirts and elasticated trousers are easier than zips, ties, buttons, but it depends on the school

wipe/blow his nose as required

know he needs the loo, is confident enough to tell teacher and manage everything himself

manage his lunchbox - they will help if they have to but 25 yoghurt pots take time... or manage to carry a tray to a table and eat with cutlery

sit quietly and pay attention when the teacher is explaining what to do, and make at least some attempt at it before needing her help

have some idea about taking turns, not demanding 100% adult attention etc

Thanks, that's really helpful. He can do all of that bar opening a yoghurt pot and we've got 6 months to work on it.

He's very ahead academically (can read and recognise nos up to 100) but I had a sudden concern that there may be something I was missing that he needed to be able to do on the non-academic side. (Before you flame me, he has learnt to read by himself, we are not pushing him).

What do they do at the end of the day/breaktimes re putting coats on - he can put his coat on but can't zip it up yet. Would he be expected to?

IME the teachers will always help them do their coats up etc as required at this age - but the benefit of them being able to do things themselves is that they can do it and run off to play, instead of waiting!