If your child is starting primary school in August or September then you may be worried about whether they are ready or not.
No matter what age your child starts school, four, five, or six, they are still very little and as all children develop at different speeds you may be wondering if they are actually ready for this big step. They all get there eventually, but when they are in school you can’t be there to help them out if they need something. So you need to be sure that they have the skills that they need to get by in primary school.
Luckily, summer is the perfect time to prepare your child for primary school and ensure they are comfortable there without you.
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5 questions to ask yourself before your child starts primary school
Maria, a teacher and school ‘readiness specialist’ with over 11K Instagram followers has shared some questions to ask yourself now, to help you know the skills that you need to go over with your kids before September.
1. Can your child name their feelings? – Not just happy and sad, can your child understand if they are frustrated, nervous or feeling left out?
2. Can they recover from disappointment within a reasonable time? – A child who can recover from disappointment (even slowly) has a ‘critical classroom skill’ says Maria.
3. Can they follow a two or three step instruction without being reminded? – This is a ‘key independence and listening skill’.
4. Can they separate from you in a new environment without extended stress? Maria says that some nervousness is ‘completely normal’ but ‘extended daily stress’ is an important signal about school readiness ‘worth paying attention to’.
5. Do they use words when frustrated, scared or upset? Or do they hit, throw, shut down or cry without being able to explain why? Language in ’emotional moments is one of the most critical school readiness skills’.
