Prepping dd for school at 5

[BobTheFly]

Dd will be 5 when she starts school and I wonder what 'extra' I need to do with her to ensure she isn't left behind. She's perfectly fine just now but I think the teacher might expect a bit more of her being 5 than some of the younger children.

Thanks for any ideas.

Prepping should really be preparing.

Why would the teacher expect more? She hasn't been to school before. My ds will turn 5 a couple of weeks after starting school but I won't be doing anything special to prepare him beyond the play sessions they have and taking time off work when he starts.

Ds was 5 in the week he started school last September and nothing "extra" was expected of him. He had 2 weeks of half days to start with, and had 4 settling half days at school this time last year. As teacher got to know the class she "sorted"'them into ability groups, which she reviews every half term.

As it is, ds has had some social/emotional problems which school have addressed extremely well.

It might bd useful for your dc to be able to -
Do up her coat
Be able to get herself dressed/undressed, including tights and shoes
Be able to fill her own water bottle
Go to the toilet by herself
Use a knife and fork
Recognise her own name
Not be shy of speaking to grown ups!

DS has been pretty fine. He has a classmate whose birthday is 31 Aug, and the difference between them is huge. Not through any effort by ds, just by being virtually a year older.

There's such a wide range of maturity/ability/skills at that age that any decent reception teacher will just look at each child as they are. The older ones tend to pick things up a bit more quickly while the younger ones tens to catch up a little bit layer but there are plenty of children who are more or less ready than their age suggests.

I'd say that to be ready for school the main things are being able to get dressed and undressed independently, being able to use the toilet including flushing and hand washing, being able to use a knife and fork, being able to sit down and concentrate enough to listen to a story and being too interact with people without hitting or biting would be the main things.

Ok this is good! She's pretty much on the ball with the things mentioned, and her siblings go to the school so she knows the building and some of the teachers very well. I just worried that the teachers might think I've been a bit lax and left that 'extra' year to waste.

No, the teacher won't think you've been slack!!

ok thanks.

It is silly isn't it the pressure we put on ourselves and our children. My dd starts in sept and will be 5 when she starts and I am worried she doesn't know all her letters, can only write her name. My ds was the same and an a October baby and knew even less but flew once he was at school so I should know better. I think reading primary education threads on mumsnet with all the over achieving children (I am quite addicted) doesn't help!!. We will laugh that we ever gave it two thoughts in a few years.

Even more embarrassing that she's my PLB and and not even the excuse of being my PFB!

Here's some perspective:
The youngest child in DS's class was 4 3 days before he started school. He 'do been toilet trained for only about 3 months and could only just count to 10 and write his name. The TA was helping him with his coat until Easter and PE lessons are about practising getting dressed and undressed. As well as being very young he has some problems in other areas, but he is in mainstream school and had coped fine/school have coped with him.

Chill.

I get that thanks bike along with your patronising 'chill' I already have an older summer born son but I sort of thought they'd expect that of him (not to be school ready) but with dd being older they might think she should be that be more ahead and independent.

My DD also starts school this year. One briliant tip I had this week was to teach her to roll up her sleeves when she washes her hands as you'll probably have bought uniform for them to grow into so sleeves may well be beyond the child's wrists.

I'd add teach them to sit with legs crossed, practice at home a few times.