Reception teachers - what independence skills would you like your new starters to have?

[tasmaniandevilchaser]

Hi, my DD is starting reception next year and I'm trying (and mostly failing) to get her to do simple things like hang her coat up. Thinking ahead to school I realise she's going to have to do a bit more, like get dressed/undressed for P.E.

What 5 things would you ideally like a child starting in reception to be able to do?

E.g. I assume they'll need to wipe their bum after a poo (bit shaky on that one ATM!)

Socks and shoes

Toilet trained including washing hands

Open their own lunch box

Ability to sit and listen, concentrate for a few minutes at a time

Good attempts at getting undressed and dressed again, even if back to front and/or inside out.

I'm not a teacher though, mum of 3 to get ready for school, these are my expectations for my DC

Thanks! Socks are main stumbling block I see there. Good job we've got lots of time, but if all goes well she'll have baby bro/sis in May so might crack on now.

DDs socks are always on back to front

I'd also add, buy her a unique drinking bottle, bag and lunch box not a run of the mill every child has one from Asda.

Recognise their own name when written/printed in 'school script' - they don't have to be able to actually read or write it, just spot that that one is theirs.

Key skill for parents - put their name on EVERYTHING... and I mean EVERYTHING!!!

Toilet and wash hand
recognise and put on own coat (I'll help fasten if needed)
dress and undress including shoes and socks (suggest no laces or button/zip down the back)
hang up coat and bag
use a knife and fork if staying for lunch

Putting shoes on the correct feet. Draw half a smiley face in one shoe and the other half in the other shoe. Ditto plimsolls.

This is great, thanks! Keep em coming.

I work as a TA in reception...

Name all clothes, coats, PE kit, shoes, vests, t-shirts, skirts, trousers...

Being able to get dressed and undressed pretty much independently is incredibly helpful.

Putting on and taking off shoes independently (my own DS has some great lables to put inside each shoe - one foot was the tail of a dinosaur and the other foot the head, and they had to go the right way around to make the dinosaur picture. He rarely got his shoes on the wrong feet)

Toilet trained and able to wipe their own bum.

Not being surprised to find that it's expected that they wash their hands after the loo and before eating.

Identifying and opening lunch boxes is very useful and empowering for them so they don't need to ask a dinner lady.

Please and thank yous - I love a child that says this without prompting, it makes me soooo happy.

Mittens, not gloves!!! (cold weather makes going out to play and hometime very labourious when they can't manage gloves).

I'm getting carried away now, but that is the essence of my wish list for new starters in my class.

Yes, please and thank you was one of the main things DDs teacher really commented on, she said how lovely it is to have a child say please and thank you every time without prompting I took manners to be a given!

I'm the same with manners - they have always been important to me and I expect them from my children from the moment they can speak! My youngest got an award from the lady who serves the dinners for his manners :D

We were asked to make sure they can ask when they need help rather than waiting for someone to automatically do something for them when they're struggling,

I like that half a smiley face idea on each shoe, how come I never heard that one before (sulk).

To know that when his TA says "have you wiped your bum?" they mean bottom ;-)

DDs primary cloakroom is too small.

Practice in stuffing lunch box and drink bottle back in bag and doing it UP.
Putting gloves, scarfs, sun hats in bag or coat pockets securely. Knowing if your coat stays on it's peg best by its hood or hanging loop.

Having a PE bag without stupidly long straps.

Very petty, but otherwise you end up waiting until everyone's gone to search said cloakroom for item that's got knocked on the floor.

Training DCs not to lose letters is also useful. Texts and Emails are great, but DD2 was still, in Y6 an expert at leaving the thing that need signing in her draw.