Can I ask quite a general question on here?
We are about a year away from the time when DD will be assessed for Reception entry at a particular SW London school. So a long time in many ways. But I am just wondering what sort of thing we should be expecting.
For example: letters and counting. DD currently has literally no interest in either of these, so I have no intention of pushing it (she's a month off 3. I am pretty sure assessment will be when she is roughly 3.11). BUT is there any point over the next year at which I should start to encourage her a bit more? Or ask her pre-school to encourage her, more likely, as she is more likely to do so there!
I suppose I'm just starting to feel a little concern on this front as I have spoken to other parents who are beginning to encourage letters/counting (even phonics, which I think is crazy at this age, no?) with a view to school selection.
Our DD is (sorry I know it's an MN cliche) very obviously an extremely bright child (Dh's family genes, I can take no credit!) - phenomenally verbal, imaginative, creative, questioning etc etc. I suppose what worries me is that if she really continues to show no interest whatsoever in getting a hang of letters/counting etc, she is going to suffer during assesment, if other children have done so.
The ratio of applicants to places is minimum 4 to 1.
Quite apart from the fact that I think on any given day it is surely difficult to assess a 3+ year-old (?) though I know the staff feel pretty confident about their ability to do this, I just absolultely love this particular school. I was very anti the assesment idea in general until I visited the school, chatted to current parents and just really feel it would be a great fit for DD. Creative, zingy environment which I know she would thrive in.
So, should I be worrying about getting her to learn more 'formal' stuff over the next 9-12 months, or should I just wing it, as we are currently doing, on the assumption that EITHER she'll suddenly decide she really wants to learn letters etc OR just not worry about it at all and work on the hope that her natural brightness shines through?
We tend towards the, er, not-so-pushy style of parenting, but in SW London I do occasionally worry that our laid-back approach might do DD a disservice!