Preparing pre-schoolers for reception class

This week, those of us with four-year-olds are looking at our tiny pre-schoolers and wondering how on Earth we they are going to cope with going into Big School aka Reception Class.

Emily Patterson from Primrose Schools has had years of watching this transition, and here she shares her advice for all of us struggling…

The beginning of your child’s educational journey should be an exciting time, not a source of anxiety. To help ease this transition, prepare your little ones by making a few adjustments to your family’s routine:

Establish a daily routine: Find a routine that fits your whole family’s schedule. Try to start each morning at the same time.

Have a night-time routines: The way you end the day is just as important as the way you start it. Make a routine for the night time too, it will make the mornings even easier. Try to have a set bed time and take care of whatever tasks you can before you go to bed. Pack book bags, have lunches ready, homework done and clothes for the next day picked out.

Get plenty of rest: Many morning issues can be avoided if everyone is rested and ready to begin the day. Get a good night’s sleep! Read a bedtime story early enough in the evening for children to get a good night’s sleep.

Read and relate: It’s often the anticipation of the unknown that makes children anxious about school. Reading about starting school gives children an opportunity to imagine their own experience and express their fears. Find a few books with characters that you feel your child will specifically relate to.

The following books are fun to read and can help children prepare for the feelings they might experience when school starts:

• Where’s My Peg?: My First Day at School
• Curious George’s First Day of School 

Set the stage: Talk to your child about school and help him or her visualise what the day’s activities are likely to be. “On Monday when you go to school, you will see your friends, play on the swings, and read stories. Ms. Smith will be there to help you. It will be lovely! And Mummy or Daddy will be there to take you home when school is over for the day.”

Shop for school supplies: Give your child the opportunity to pick out a few items he or she likes, they love school shopping and it will also provide a sense of ownership and responsibility in the decision-making process.

Say a quick “goodbye”: When dropping your child off at school, give a quick hug and kiss, cheerfully say goodbye and promise to return later. The longer you stay the less confidence your child will have in being ‘left’ at school.

Establish a partnership: Children look for emotional cues from mum and dad’s behaviour. The more comfortable you are with your child’s teacher, the more comfortable your child will be. Discuss with your child’s teacher how your child is adjusting over the first few weeks of school. The more visible you can make the connection between home and school the more secure your child will feel.

–By Emily Patterson, Primrose Schools

Do you feel ready for next week? Is your little one starting with half-days and how have you calmed any jitters? Tell us below. 

About Holly Seddon

Holly Seddon is a writer, editor and community consultant and helped launched the community for Adoption UK, which won charity website of the year just 9 months later. She also writes a music blog.

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