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Primary education

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Wondered if hand holding for Sept newbies would be nice?

990 replies

treedelivery · 19/06/2009 16:50

Just that really. Like an antenatal thread but for parents of children starting primary in Sept.

We have our taster afternoon in a couple of weeks - it all feels so alien. Haven't felt this out of it since I bought my 1st pack of nappies and got the giggles at the checkout!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Aranea · 07/07/2009 17:15

PS Acinonyx, I just had to google your name. I like it.

PinkTulips · 07/07/2009 17:28

aranea... i'm dyspraxic (i've only known the word for it as an adult though... diagnoses for things like that didn't really exist when i was in school, i was just the clumsy kid who couldn't concentrate).

i know it must be scary for you thinking of her dealing with all the new and difficult experiances but children really do cope even in the most adverse situations.... i knew there was something differant about me and did get very frustrated with the physical hindrances and the inability to focus on tasks but i also learned to cope with those differances and at times excelled in school... although the phrase 'Pink must learn to concentrate/focus' was everpresent in my report cards and more than one teacher sat in a&e with me after my varied and many trips and falls

dyspraxia is odd in that two people can have it yet have completely differant effects, my weaknesses are with motor skills... gross more so than fine although my handwriting would argue otherwise, and with mental organisation and maths yet my language skills are better than average. that doesn't mean that every dyspraxic will be identical... the definition of dyspraxia is 'difficulty organising thoughts and motions' and that covers a huge range of possible affects of which no dyspraxic will have every one.

honestly, she'll amaze you with her ability to adjust and work around her problems

Aranea · 07/07/2009 17:53

Thank you PinkTulips, that's really helpful.

Aranea · 07/07/2009 20:32

Since I'm not currently involved in tunics or nametapes I thought I'd have a go at updating the list. Apologies if I've messed anything up or missed anyone.

3rdnparty: my pfb due to start sep as well at my 2nd choice (need to get over it but struggling)..ds will be 4.2

Acinonyx has one dd will be 4.1 starting school. Major toilet issues and very shy. Draws well, writes, counts and does some very simple sums but no reading.

Aranea has a DD who will be 4.8 when she starts school in September. Can do dressing, toilet and eating. Starting to read a little and do simple sums. Physically finds things a bit difficult so quite a high 'mamma worries' score!

Babbity has DS who will be 4.10. Can do dressing, eating and toileting. Knows alphabet and loves numbers/ sums/ "science" but not interested in writing, holding pencil, or anything creative. Bum wiping adequate.

blametheparents has a DD who will be 4.6. Recognises letters and is trying to work out sounds in words, but cannot read. Can do simple adding and taking away sums. Desperate to start school with her big brother, keep reminding her she will not be in his class. Some toilet issues, she has been prescribed movicol now which is helping loads, but need to keep a close eye on her diet.

Curlylox: DD start September too and have the impression it is full time, she also turns 5 in September too.

DwayneDibbley has DD who will be 4.2 on first day. Can do buttons, and get dressed, eats like a horse, knows alphabet, numbers, simple sums, can read (well, spells out words phonically and then says what word is, and just beginning to know whole words by sight iyswim?). no inclination to write at all. Good bum wiper, but cannot blow nose. Is terrible telltale, and huge perceiver of non-existent injustices, the constant communication of which, I fear, will make her unpopular with teachers.

eandh - dd1 will be starting reception on her 5th birthday (which she is very excited about!) appears confident (ie is loud and opinated) however can be very insecure and is a real worrier and has some hearing issues so am slightly worried about that! Knows most of the alphabet and can write things if I spell them for her, absolute no interest in reading writing is actually quite neat howveer cannot grasp what is a number and what is a letter. Thankfully no toilet issues and not too fussy so l,unches should be fine. However major issue is I want to cut a few inches off her hair as its so long and she is not having any of it at the moment! Can dress okay

FatGirlThin: Ds is my youngest. I feel SICK at the thought of him going even though I know he's ready.

Fruitful has DS1 who will be 4.7, starting full-time the second week. Can just about write his name, can mostly get dressed except for jumpers for some reason, can't wipe his bum but has completely mastered the art of only ever pooing at home

fuzzypeach: My DD1 is 5 on 13th Sept, and starting school on the 7th. Im quite concerned about DD1 starting school as she is quite badly behaved - we have been on parenting courses and had "home help" (!!!) to try and help but she is very bright and outwits me and Dh with her behaviour all the time whateve techniques we use.
She is very independant but the only thing she struggles with is going to the toilet on her own, and she never wipes her bum properly so bit worried about that too!!!

golgi has son 4.8 on first day. Can do numbers, letters, read some words. Will not pick up pen or pencil or dress himself. Still has a nap after lunch if given half a chance.

LadyIsabella has DS1, 4.9. Having a massive testosterone surge at the moment, very curious about most things (esp. space, science etc) but not at all patient (drawings take 1 min etc). Refuses to wipe his bottom unless bribed with stickers etc.

littlelamb: Dd is starting year 1 in September, having not been at school this year as we were waiting for a place.

lollyheart: My dd will be 4.10, she can dress herself,loves to write, draw, she knows her letters and numbers, the only problem is she cant wipe her bum, well she tries but makes a mess of it.

lolster's DS starts this sept

LovelyRitaMeterMaid: DD won't start going to school until after Christmas (and will be in a mixed nursery/reception class) as she'll be 4 in September. There is an intake every term and they go mornings only for the first two terms.

LtEveDallas: DD starts this Sep, she will be 4.6 and seems ready. No toilet probs (except she hates wearing knickers and tends to leave them off when she's finished!). She knows her letters, numbers, simple maths etc but hates using a knife and fork and at present still has an afternoon nap - gonna have to drop this one.

MarshaBrady has Ds 4.5 in September, loves counting, really wants to write, knows alphabet, and can wipe and do loo stuff fine. Has a baby brother or sister due in Dec so mother, I mean me of course, is not too sad about him starting.

mckenzie: DD was 4 in March and she has had 2 one hour stay and play sessions this month and we parents had a great evening meeting where we were given lots of information, met some of the teachers and nursery assistants etc and were shown round the school. I have a DS in year 3 at the same school but things have changed a bit since he was in reception (for the better) so it was nice to be shown round again.

mrsmortenharket: pfb starts in sept

norksinmywaistband has dd 4.9 on first day, very keen to start. Knows her numbers and letters, and write her own name - in a fashion. She has poo issues and I am worried about tantrums toward end of day as she gets very stroppy when tired

paisleyleaf: DD starts september and I am just gutted.

pantshavenames: PFB DS starting september

pigswithflu - one ds (4.2) on first day. Improving with own dressing but often all wrong way round. Can read whole sentences (proud mummy alert), good at maths but barely writes something akin to name.
Buttons and bum wiping on to do list for summer hols.

Pinktulips has one dd (4.7) starting in sept. toilet issues, chronic shyness and hates letters and counting. has master bum wiping but buttons still a tricky one. she's great at drawing and things involving fine motor skills though (puzzles and crafty things)

simpson has DS who will be 4.0 on 1st day of school. He can feed, dress and has no toilet problems. he can count, knows most letters and is starting to read some words. He also draws & holds pencil well but no writing yet. Main worry is tiredness as he gets very tired just doing half days at preschool.

Swissmiss has DS who will be 4.8 on first day. Not really interested in the academic stuff, much prefers to be making stuff. Can dress / wipe bottom but prefers not so it is the source of many a frustation on both our parts. Like Wheelybug's dd he talks a lot and will spend most of his time being told to talk less and listen more.

teafortwo has one dd will be 3.4 on first day. This is the age all children start school in Paris (where milk and tea live). Butterflies are us - but in a good way !

TitsalinaBumsquash: DS is going up into Reception in September, he hasn't said a lot about it, i have spoken to him and he isn't really that interested.

treedelivery has dd1 age 4.10 on 1st day. Does own dressing and academic stuff. Does not do bowel control, eating or relaxing. Todays 'Mamma worries' score 6/10

Wheelybug has dd who will be 4.7. Beginning to read and does other academic stuff hanks to a good pre-school but talks far too much so will probably spent most of her time being told to talk less and listen more.

Wolfnipplechips dd is 4.7 in sept, can dress herself, wipebum and write names. Loves drawing, craftyness and ballet. Is left handed so struggles a bit with letter formation. Is a scruffy child and her dm and db are going to miss her terribly

Babygeog will be 4.11, he is ready academically ,starting to read, obsessed with numbers but like many on here reluctant to write, in other ways he is a baby, he is number 3 and likes to play the fool. He has to wear a shirt and is clueless on buttons. Not really sure what i'll do in September...

moodlumthehoodlum · 07/07/2009 21:33

Can I join this hand holding thread?

Ds is starting in September in Reception. We've made a last minute change of school which I am agonising over. He isn't even 4 yet, but will be in a few days

Thought I would be cool as a cucumber, but in actual fact am distraught at the idea of him at school...

treedelivery · 07/07/2009 21:33

Yay the list. I love the list

Must have a frustrated inner teacher - just need a register.

Having a girlie shopping trip to big smoke on Sat. 1.5 hours on train each way and a huge marks and spencer. Will do girlie lunch and chats, and leave baby with dh so can ruin dd1.

Hello to all the new people, and welcome.

Also scheming a special trip to hairdressers for a special school hair cut. Yay schemes.

OP posts:
simpson · 07/07/2009 22:01

Ok am now stressing about school coats

can they wear any colour or do they have to "match" the uniform iyswim??

Also I know I will buy new coat for DS and it will look 100 yrs old after one wear by DS

Tree enjoy the shopping

McDreamy · 07/07/2009 22:03

Can I join? I need hand holding!

DS will be 4.1 when he starts in September. He is very small and I'm worried about not being able to find uniform small enough for him. He has been on a orientation day today and loved it.

simpson · 07/07/2009 22:11

mcdreamy - My Ds is small too and will be the youngest in class being end of Aug baby

I have bought age 3 trousers from M&S which are still a bit big but TBH should be ok by Sept

Smallest size PE shorts too big so have to buy normal pair of shorts to do in the mean time

McDreamy · 07/07/2009 22:13

DS has only just gone into size 2-3 clothes! He is the only child I know that wears out his clothes

moodlumthehoodlum · 07/07/2009 22:16

Oh McDreamy me too. DS is wearing 18mo shorts today.

Yesterday I wept buckets over him going to school, and when DH asked me why I was so sad, I said "because I know that his trousers will fall down, and no-one will know to pull them up.."

Am welling up again.

simpson · 07/07/2009 22:19

DS in 2-3 trousers too.

But he does wear 3-4 tops

Awwww moodlumthehoodlum

moodlumthehoodlum · 07/07/2009 22:21
McDreamy · 07/07/2009 22:23

Oh thank goodness he's not alone - seriously! I worry that he'll be picked on

fuzzypeach · 07/07/2009 22:36

Thanks for doing the list Aranea!

My DD is very small too - she is 2-3yr clothes, but she doesnt look too bad in the age 3/4 stuff thankfully! Must run in the family as DD2 is 14 months and still in some 3-6 month things!!

DD has her one and only visit tomorrow morning, followed by a school lunch. She is really looking forward to it!

golgi · 07/07/2009 22:37

Tree - the shopping trip sounds like fun - I can't imagine doing that with the boy.

Moodlum - I am sure someone would pull his trousers up if they fell down. My son tends to waddle out of the toilet with pants and trousers around ankles saying "I've just been for a wee mummy now will you pull my trousers up" - hmm a bit more training required over the summer I think.

Aranea · 07/07/2009 22:45

I wish my DD was going to have a visit. Her only visit is the day before she starts. I suppose there's a logic to it - she won't have much time to worry and think about things - but I am desperate to know what she'll make of it!

I have ordered the Ahlberg book so thankyou to whoever was recommending that.

furrycat · 07/07/2009 22:50

My Ds is still in size 18-24months trousers- and he'll be 4.9 when he starts school. He has a tiny waist and his trousers still fall down despite attempts at braces, belts and exceptionally poor sewing on my part!

I have bought M&S age 3 cargo shorts (which he can probably wear till November as they're shin length!) after reading reviews on their website where everyone complained they were much too slim-fitting.

They have adjustable waists and I automatically adjusted it to the slimmest setting - for the first time ever that made them too small! I adjusted them again and sent him off running and jumping - they didn't fall down at all.

simpson · 07/07/2009 22:53

LOL at loads of mothers sending their small DCs in trousers for school telling them to jump/run etc so see if they fall down

I will be one of them BTW

zazen · 07/07/2009 22:57

Oooh can I join?

DD is going into a new school with 27 other little girls in September, with one teacher. She's 5 next week, and is in Reception already in a Montessori school with 4 boys and 8 girls, with a teacher ratio of one:six.

I'm worried she'll be bored as she's already reading and writing and can do sums of units and tens and 100s. She's been full time at Montessori nursery and Reception 5 days a week, 9 till 5.30 for 2 years, and her new school has only 3 hours a day. She goes to the loo, dresses herself, (does ballet and tennis, and can change back into her day uniform after them) and can handle her own lunch already.

I'm self employed, and am wondering how I'll cram my work into the morning and what I'll do with her in the rest of the day!

She loves her new uniform, and her old one too. None of her old friends from her old school got a place in the new school.

But thankfully I have a friend who has a DD already in the new school and she has a almost new blazer for me. They're 110 pounds new! The uniform is all bought from specialty providers and embroidered with school insignia etc, so majorly expensive. Her book list is mostly workbooks of stuff she's already covered..

Any tips for after school activities, and how to keep boredom at bay? I know that socially this new school will be different, and hope that that will keep her occupied.

Last week she asked me to cut her hair, so I chopped 12 inches of it off. We've discovered swimming and changing rooms were hell with long hair! I'm so delighted, as it was getting so long, and I'd been asking her for two years if I could cut it.

I worried like a bag of worrying things worrying when she went into the Montessori nursery when she was 3, but she took to it like a duck to water - I wished I hadn't worried now, as I kindof spoilt it for myself in the run up IYKWIM.

Acinonyx · 08/07/2009 09:58

Just got back from taking dd to her settling in session. Two classes of 20 kids - and when all the other parents had gone mine was screaming and holding onto my leg. The teaching assistant prised her off me and I left. I lurked for a while - I could still hear her wailing. The secretary came out and advised me to go home and call the office later to check on her.

McDreamy · 08/07/2009 10:07

Aw Acinonyx that's tough . Did she settle done in the end?

My DD was like this when she started a couple of years ago. She loves school now.

DS on the other hand had to ask me to leave yesterday!! I think it helps having to do the school run with his sister everyday.

So pleased to hear about other mums with small children! Any recommendations on where to buy? I am going to start with M&S.

McDreamy · 08/07/2009 10:08

D'oh just realised you've just got back - sorry should have read your post properly! I hope she does settle down and enjoy her session

Go and make yourself a cup of coffee and have some time out

simpson · 08/07/2009 10:09

Acinonyx - Am sure she will be fine

DS told me yesterday that he has met his new teacher

As he goes to the nursery attached to the school they just take them to the classroom at various points in the week.

Means I don't get to meet new teachers though

Acinonyx · 08/07/2009 10:19

Well I just called and they said she has calmed down and is watching but not joining in. She generally never joins in with things in group setting so no surprises there. She'll probably suck her thumb clean off....

I suppose it's too early for a glass of wine....?