ISP - Starting Early Years Guide - August 2022

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME by Abigail Fishbourne - School Improvement Partner International Schools Partnership - Middle East

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP The International Schools Partnership is a focused, growing and financially secure group of schools located across Europe, The Americas, The Middle East and Southeast Asia.

All our schools: Help children and students learn to levels that amaze them; Inspire children and students to be successful now and equip them to be successful later; Are truly international, working in partnerships within and across regions, cultures and languages; Aim to be the first choice for children, students and their families, wherever we are.

Starting school is both an exciting and daunting time

for many families. For many children it is the first time they have been cared for by people other than family members. For some it is their first step of independence and for others, it is a step from the small preschool groups of nurseries into the big world of school.

Over the years I have been asked by many families, what they should do to prepare their children for their first day at school. I think many have expected me to answer with a list of educational objectives or memorized facts e.g. teach them the alphabet, how to write their own name or count to 10, but this couldn’t be further from my response.

So, what can you do to prepare your child for these first days?

Take every opportunity to talk about school with positivity - visit the school gates and talk about how exciting it will be to put on the school uniform and step through them when school starts.

You may want to build up the excitement with a countdown of the number of sleeps until school starts.

Talk about the new friends they will meet, the exciting activities they will take part in and the kind teachers who are waiting to meet them.

If you have some lovely memories about your school days share these with them.

There are some great books about starting school that you could share together.

If they voice that they will miss you, or that they will be upset when you go, acknowledge this. Let them know that you will also miss them but at the end of the day you will be there to hear about the wonderful and exciting day they have had.

What skills will help your child?

Part of starting school is learning to be independent so try to teach these self-help skills.

Getting dressed and undressed is an important skill.

How to take off a cardigan or jacket so that the sleeves don’t get pulled through plus, how to fix it if they do.

How to put on, and take off, school uniform and PE kit How to get clothes and shoes the right way round.

How to do up a zip, buttons, poppers or belt buckle.

How to do up their shoes – Velcro, buckles and laces

Going to the toilet on your own is an important step to independence.

How you use the toilet independently. This includes closing the door, cleaning themselves and flushing the toilet How to wash their hands properly, how to use a soap pump and how to turn off a tap.

If your child will be taking a packed lunch to school, teach them: How to open and close the containers or packaging they will have in their lunch boxes.

How to put a straw into a box drink How to tidy their lunch away once they have finished

Being part of a class means learning how to work in a group of children so you may want to teach them these social skills.

How to wait.

How to take turns.

How to share.

How to compromise.

How to listen.

How to follow 2 or 3 step directions e.g. hang up your coat and then sit on the carpet or put your lunch box away then come and sit on the carpet to look at a book.

The school day is full of talking, listening and speaking so you could build language and practice these language skills.

Talk, talk and talk some more!

Share books - read to your child and talk about what you have read Use big words with your child. Check their understanding and if necessary explain that they mean. When they start to learn to read it will be much easier for them if the word is already part of their vocabulary.

Help them build their memory. Tell them what you need at the supermarket then, when you get there, ask “What did we come to the store for?”

Teach them to answer questions.

Teach them to ask questions.

Teach them to problem solve. Problem solvers don’t say “I’m thirsty” they ask for what they need. “Can I please have a glass of water?”

Being away from your family means you need to learn these coping skills.

Talk about strategies to deal with emotions.

What do emotions feel like?

What makes you happy?

What can you do if you are cross?

What can you do if you are upset?

If you’re feeling sad, what’s something happy that you could think about to cheer you up?”

In some instances, children may need reminding about what they can’t do in school eg biting or hitting. If you are teaching this try to rephrase this positively so that “No biting” becomes, “If you feel cross or upset you can tell the teacher but remember we never hurt other people.”

Finally, don’t worry about the formal side of education and learning objectives...this is for the teachers. If you focus on these skills your child will be ready to access the learning in the school day and their teachers can focus on the learning objectives and academics.