Getting your child school ready

[giveitago]

Any advice for me? Ds starts reception this Sept and I'd love to know how to really get your lo ready?

ie he still cannot dress himself so what happens at PE or swimming?

How do I get ds to dress himself - it's very frustrating.

He can't use a knife but it's never worried us to date as the food he eats only requires a fork or fingers. But I think I'd better start so he doesn't stand out.

Any other things I'll need to get 'done' as when I look at him right now I cannot imagine him at school - he'll be just over 4 when he starts.

Your experiences will be most welcome.

Agree with Bighug that Starting School is brilliant - and I would also recommend Lucy and Tom Go To School by Shirley Hughes, and the Topsy and Tim school books.

giveitago, i'm doing stuff like this too lately.
DS is a late August baby and starts reception in September!

I am starting to get him to wipe his own bottom, which he's doing really well at so just start gradually.
I always get him to undress himself for a bath, he can do most but not buttons yet.
Making sure he's holding his knife and fork properly.
He started writing his own name at Christmas, (he has two older sisters and wants to do what they are doing).
I don't think he's mastered scissors yet, must do more cutting at home.

MY concern for my little boy is not all that, i think he's amazingly independant for 3, i just don't know if he's ready socially. Most kids in his nursery class appear to play together but he always says he has no friends. He's just not keen to mix at the moment, i've worried alot about him being the youngest!! It's awful when they're so little isn't it and having to do things nearly 5 year olds are doing!

DD2 also doesn't seem socially ready. DD1 was 4 and 8 months when she started and was so ready. DD2 will be 4 and 2 weeks when she starts. She plays with people at nursery who are being nice to her. Not like she has a couple of firm friends IYSWIM. DD1 was so different and had a group of friends and played with them every day. Have visions of DD2 just hanging around and then playing with whoever decides to take her under their wing. (PS - this is probably not the case but she's my baby - wahhhhhh!)

oh, this is another really helpful thread to me. I don't know the way forward with some of dd's socially less attractive habits, but at least I know she won't be the only one. she is big for her age and quite boisterous and not sure how to help her tome down her play, or even if she should. I know she has friends who are excited to see her and with whom she plays nicely, but I also know that one or two children don't like her (one mother unhelpfully told me ). Well, it is six months away!

Thanks for a great thread OP.

DS (Aug 31st)will be 4 plus a few days days when he starts in Sept. I'm a bit when I think of him going off each morning in his too-big uniform but glad that he'll be moving on from nursery so we can save some money on nursery fees before he gets bored.

FightingDwarf - Do you know which primary school your DD will be going to? When you do I would contact them and perhaps have a chat with the class teacher or head or maybe the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) (not that your DD has problems with learning but the SENCO maybe able to get some extra support for the class to help with the settling in process and other issues). My DS has problems with his speech and my theory is that if I can make the school aware of his problems then the support can be there right from the beginning and then can be withdrawn / reduced etc if it is not needed. I would much prefer this than to hope for the best and then realise that he does need extra support and having to wait months before anything is sorted out (things can take a long time with paperwork etc)

Brill thread ds not going till 2011 but I'm gonna save this!

Practises bum wiping, sissor cutting and get smiley faces for his shoes. Thx v much.

Definately need some pockets full of kisses xx

Wanted to bump this thread for everybody who, like me, has little ones starting 'big school' after the summer holidays.

Some really good pieces af advice on this thread.

For bum wipes, I was really worried about it but we basically physically showed DS how to do it. How long the sheet of loo paper has to be, how to fold it, how to hold it, and how to wipe. It's very technical, but he learned very quickly.

Also, for dressing, we make it a competition I put the timer on the oven for three minutes and I try to get my two DSs to put their clothes on within the time. It's good fun and they love it.

am smiling at "not to smirk or laugh when being told off".
ds2 does this (ds1 never did), and I have no idea how to stop him.

The headmistress when my oldest DC started school recommended taking the to somewhere like Debenhams for lunch, so they had to choose what to eat. If the school gives them any kind of choice it is useful for them to have practiced making a choice (even if the school choice is just peas or carrots or peas and carrots).

I'm reviving this thread as it was so useful when my DS started school. My second is due to start in September and I wanted to start slowly preparing her :)