How to prepare your child for school

    How to prepare your child for school

 Although preparing your child for nursery school might be difficult, it need not be a daunting task. You may help your youngster prepare by doing certain actions. But, you should be aware that every child develops at their own rate. It is crucial to respect your child's preparedness and avoid unreasonable agenda-pushing. Potty training is an excellent place to start when preparing your child for school.

a)  Physically Getting Your Kid Ready 

1. Work on potty training. 

Particularly if your child is 4 years old or older, several schools need your child to be at least partially potty trained. Even while they may not need to be fully potty trained if they are younger, you and your child should be working on it together. Be patient and wait till your child is ready. Before you start potty training your child, they should start expressing an interest in using the toilet.  Often, this occurs when the child is around 2 or 2½. Also, your child should be able to follow instructions and maintain their dryness for up to two hours at a time. Make sure your youngster can communicate and wants to be clean and dry if you want them to succeed.The ability to come to you when they need a change is a fantastic preparedness skill. Also, your child has to understand up and down, clean and dirty, and wet and dry. Kids should be familiar with the terms used in your home for using the toilet, such as pee and faeces, as well as the names of their own bodily parts.

Invest on some potty training aids. Your child will find it challenging to use a regular-sized toilet without any modifications. Either purchase a kid-sized toilet that fits over your regular one, or invest in a smaller kid-sized toilet seat that fits over it.

2. Decide on a timetable for restroom breaks.

 Try to schedule regular toilet breaks throughout the day, around every two hours.  Encourage your youngster to attempt sitting on the toilet while not wearing a nappy during these breaks. Boys will eventually transition to standing up and using a urinal, but at initially both boys and girls should be seated.

Try letting them use the lavatory around 30 minutes after eating. Also, you ought to encourage your infant to urinate whenever they appear to need to. They could fidget or grasp at their crotch, for example

As soon as you see the indications, take your child to the lavatory. Make sure to express your excitement if they end up using the lavatory so they understand. Some kids may find that getting to flush the toilet is a delightful reward.

Incentives can also be beneficial. You can use any motivator that your youngster finds appealing, such stickers or reading time with a parent or sibling. Every time your youngster uses the toilet to relieve themselves, reward them.

3. hone your dressing abilities. 

Of course, if your child needs a zip fixed or a pair of shoes tied, the teacher will assist, but there is a time limit. The more your child is able to complete independently, the better. Try to turn learning how to dress into a game. You could, for instance, time how quickly your child can get dressed and lace their shoes before challenging them to beat their time. Don't forget to express enthusiasm for the talents they displayed.

Teach your child to put on and take off their shoes independently by asking the teacher what kinds of shoes they want the students to wear.

Allow your kid to practise tying shoes using a thread that is fastened to a board.

When using the lavatory, demonstrate to older kids how to independently lower and rise their trousers, waistbands, or zippers.

Also, you can purchase toys that teach your youngster how to use Velcro, zippers, and buttons.

Most kids 3 and older can learn how to put their coat on alone. Try to position the jacket so that it is flat and facing away from the youngster. They should flip the jacket over their heads and put their hands in the sleeves.

4. One nap at a time, work. 

Preschoolers often just take one afternoon sleep. The children are engaged in activities for the remainder of the day. So that you can modify your child's schedule appropriately, ask the school what time the kids take their naps. If your child still needs two naps, consider keeping them up all morning and allowing them to sleep later in the day.

Strive to keep your child active and engaged in the morning. Instead of choosing a peaceful pastime like watching a movie, go outside and play or pick a physically demanding sport. In this manner, kids won't want to sleep in the morning, and by the afternoon, they will be exhausted.

Find out from the school what the kids will use for naps (like a cot, a mat, or in a crib). Have your youngster practise taking naps at home on a surface like this.

Moreover, find out from the school what is allowed during sleep time. Some schools could forbid kids from having comfort items like pacifiers, plush animals, or loveies.

5. Practice eating on your own.

 It's likely that your nursery school will promote autonomous eating for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. In the weeks before your child's first day of school, find out when meals are provided at their nursery school. Do your best to replicate these mealtimes at home so that your child's body gets used to anticipating these times for meals.

During mealtime, encourage your youngster to practise feeding himself. Younger kids might eat with their fingers. Children ages three and four should eat with spoons or forks. With your youngster, practise using a cup as well.

At home, try dining "family style." At this time, meals are placed on family-style tables with large bowls of food and pitchers of beverages.

Encourage your youngster to use ladles to serve themself meals and to pour liquids from a pitcher into cups. Children are frequently taught how to eat "family style" in nursery schools.

Children will be expected to assist with cleanup after lunch at school. Provide a kid-sized trash container where your child may dispose of any leftover food so they can independently wipe their plates up. Find out from your child's nursery school whether paper plates and cups will be used or if your child has to bring a set from home. Tell your youngster that paper plates and cups are thrown away and that at home, they are washed in the washbasin so they can be used again.

b) Developing the Right Skills

1. Promote self-reliance. 

As your child starts kindergarten, they should be able to play alone or with other kids for at least a short while. Preschool involves some independent play with a big group of kids, so they can't always need to be instructed what to do by an adult.

At around age 3 or 4, when your child is ready for nursery school, start promoting autonomous play.

Ask your child what they would like to do when they are bored and want to play. When they identify it, assist them in getting it out before leaving them to play.

2. Encourage your kid to play with others.

 Planning play dates and putting your child in various circumstances where they interact with other children, like at the playground, are the best ways to aid in their social skill development. To engage with other kids in a more regulated setting, you can also sign up your youngster for a class in parks and recreation. 

Playacting talks with your child is another way to assist them in developing social skills. As an illustration, you could act out a discussion your kid may have with a different kid while posing as one of their friends.

Consider planning play dates around hobbies or interests your child has. They are more likely to interact with the other children if they do this. 

3. Read aloud to your kid. 

Reading to your child starts them on the path to school by introducing them to books and reading. Also, reading to your child helps them develop the crucial academic ability of learning how to focus for extended periods of time.

Pick up several books on going to school as you get closer to preschool. Your youngster will have the opportunity to express their views and feelings as a result of this introduction to the subject.

4. Hone your listening abilities. 

Your child must be able to listen because that is the only way a teacher can keep control of a class of children. As your child is cleaning their teeth, practise giving them instructions and seeing them follow through. You can also attempt engaging hobbies like baking with them, instructing them on what to do.

Go away and say, "It appears like you don't want to listen right now," if your youngster isn't paying attention. Please come grab me so we can have a good conversation when you're ready to listen.

Games like I, Spy, Simon Says, Mother, May I?, and Red Light, Green Light can also promote listening.

Children that are older can practise multi-step direction.

5. Stimulate imagination. 

In addition to being enjoyable for you both, supporting your child's artistic side will aid in the development of their fine and gross motor abilities, which are crucial for success in school. Your child can practise those abilities while having fun by sketching, painting, sculpting, and colouring.

Try engaging in creative endeavours as a couple. If you have the chance to spend time with your child, they will be much more enthused in art.

Try other motor skill-developing activities, like using building blocks or putting puzzles together, if your child isn't into art. You might also try honing some fundamental cooking techniques.

6. Boost communication. 

Your child must be able to inform their instructor when they need something at school, such as to use the restroom. The ability to converse with other adults is more important than perfect English fluency.

You can promote communication by delaying the satisfaction of your children's wants. In other words, before your child asks, you might already know what they want. Yet, before you offer them anything, make them beg for it. They will become more talkative as a result of that.

You can also set an example by expressing your own demands. Your child will pick up on this habit if they observe you asking for what you need.

c) reducing the fear of school

1. Talk about the preview with your child. 

Talk to your child about what will happen at school in the days before they start nursery school. You can explain to your child what will be required of them, where they will be going, and what they will be doing all day. Let your child to voice their anxieties while keeping it as lighthearted and humorous sounding as you can. If they ask any questions, try to respond in an open and sincere manner.

For instance, you might remark, "You'll be starting nursery school in a few weeks. When you attend nursery school, you do it in a setting with other children. You can play games and hear stories.

2. Practice separating. 

It can be even terrifying if this is the first time your child has ever been away from you or other family members because of nursery school. Practice the separation by asking a friend to watch the kids for you to help lessen the pain.

Start with shorter absences—say, 30 minutes—and work your way up to longer ones.

Inform your child that you are leaving but will be returning shortly. Your return will demonstrate to your youngster that you will keep your word.

After several sessions, if your child still cries throughout your absence, they might not be prepared to start nursery school.

3.Show up at an open house.

The majority of schools host open houses so that you and your child can tour the facility. You can better prepare your child for attending school by allowing them to visit it beforehand. Also, showing your child the classroom can make them eager to start school because it is likely to be lively and colourful with toys and books.

Introducing your child to the teacher is another approach to smooth their transition to nursery school. In this manner, your child will be able to observe the teacher's kindness and will be greeted by a familiar, kind face on the first day of school.

4. At break, stroll by the school. 

Try to take your child by the school while classes are in session so they may watch the other children playing. Your youngster will feel more at ease with the notion of going to school if they observe how much fun they are having.

5. Boost enthusiasm. 

Whenever you talk about going to school, emphasise how enjoyable and interesting it will be. Your youngster will emulate your enthusiasm if they witness it. Even if it's your child's first day of school, keep your enthusiasm up. Your child will pick up on your emotions, so if you stay upbeat and happy, it will probably be easier on them the first time. 

6. Offer your child options. 

Allowing your child to choose their own school supplies in anticipation of the start of school is another approach to foster enthusiasm. Of course, there will be some materials provided by the school, but letting your child choose their lunchbox, backpack, and even new clothes for school can increase their excitement.

Allowing your child to choose their own school supplies in the morning is another approach to give them options. For instance, you may let them pick out their wardrobe and lunch or a snack.