Starting school should be an enjoyable, positive experience where children have the opportunity to make new friends and experience new things. Helping your child to be ready for School Below are a few strategies that can help prepare your child for school. The tips have been grouped into four categories, however, many of the activities help develop skills in more than one area.
Preparing for Kinder
We have a set of planned activities to assist your child to make a smooth transition to Kindergarten. Research shows that children who settle quickly into school are more likely to be socially competent and achieve better results. You can help your child prepare for Kindergarten and be organised for the first day. The following website has advice and strategies to help prepare your child for school:Going to Primary School
Social and Emotional Competence
Ensure your child has some regular contact with other children before starting school. This helps them learn how to make friends. Introduce games:- that involve taking turns, such as playing on a swing or jumping on a trampoline;- where they have to share or play co-operatively to attain a joint or an individual goal, such as, sharing coloured pencils or building a sandcastle;- of chance where children can learn to lose gracefully, such as board games like snakes and ladders. Encourage them to come up with a fair solution if conflict arises. Sit down with them and help them sort through the conflict. Make them aware of rules and the reasons for having them, such as crossing the road only when the 'green person' walks. Use positive labels to help build their self-esteem, such as 'helpful', 'kind', 'responsible', 'grown-up' and avoid using negative ones. Refer to negative behaviour in terms of the event. "That wasn't a very sensible thing to do" labels the act rather than the personality. If your child sees you being kind and helpful to your family and friends, they will learn from your behaviour. If you are often angry and solve conflict by shouting or being aggressive, they are also likely to imitate this way of responding. Notice if your child does something well. Behaviour is more likely to change with praise than punishment. During the first few weeks, in particular, it's important that you ask questions about their day to encourage them to talk about school at home.
Language
Talk to your child, ask them questions and listen to what they have to say. Help them learn to follow simple instructions. Ask them to do things that will help you as well, such as getting food out of the fridge. Make sure to thank them so they feel appreciated. Read to your child. Children are better readers when they have been read to a lot by their parents.
Physical & Motor Development
Make sure your child is well rested and has a balanced diet. Play games together, such as kicking a ball, obstacle courses, skipping and hopping games. Limit TV viewing. Involve your child in a sport they enjoy, for example, join a kinder gym or little athletics club, play soccer or join a ballet class. Children are more likely to cope successfully with the transition to school if they've had positive experiences away from their home and familiar adults. {/slider} {slider=General Knowledge & Skills} Teach your child to dress themselves, tie shoe laces, use velcro or buckles. Make sure they can go to the toilet by themselves. Teach them to write their name. Visit museums, galleries, the beach, the park, go for walks and see friends. If you have any other questions about your child starting school, please don't hesitate to ask other parents you will meet or ask our Principal or Deputy Principals.
Kinder Help
Please look at the items below to help you when starting school.
In Term 1 Kindergarten students are dismissed at 2.55pm. They finish the same time as students in other grades. We earnestly request that parents be ready to collect their children near Infants Quad as teachers bring classes to this meeting point. It is requested that parents: * have their child's name on such articles as raincoat, hat, drink bottle and lid, lunch box and lid, sun hat and any other item brought to school. * place a raincoat and hat in their child's bag, even in fine weather (storms can come unexpectedly). It is requested that parents encourage their child to: * dress themselves. tie their own shoelaces. * know orally his/her name, address and phone number (many parents like to teach their children to write their names before they come to school). * Please encourage your child to use lower case letters in Foundation Style. Capital letters should only be used at the beginning of sentences or for proper nouns. It should be remembered that during the initial stages of learning to read and write, the children will be taught phonic sounds rather than alphabet names. Below are some tips to help your child both at home and school.
Emotional & Social Development
Say goodbye to your child calmly. It is common to have separation problems at first. Be on time to collect your child after school. Before starting school play games where your child doesn't always win and there is a small amount of teasing. Regressive behaviour (e.g. bed wetting, thumb sucking, wanting to be dressed and fed) is normal when children start school: don't worry. Encourage your child's curiosity by asking questions and by encouraging questions in return, talk about experiences. Your child may communicate little about his/her day's activities at school. You can learn much by just observing your child's play and listening to their stories. Encourage your child to read. It is important your child also sees you reading and writing. Children learn by your example. Give your child simple jobs to do at home e.g. setting the table, picking up after play. Your child may develop many friendships in their first year at school. Boys have a new friend depending on the current game they are playing and girls have a new best friend every day.
The ill child
Teachers need to be aware of any medical conditions or disabilities your child may have e.g. asthma, diabetes, allergies. Children with asthma, and allergies requiring epipens: ensure the school has a management plan that is updated every 12 monthsor after each hospital admission. All children starting Kindergarten are required to provide a record of their immunisation status. Think about chickenpox immunisation for your child. If your child has an infectious disease they are to stay at home for the recommended period. If your child is unwell they will recuperate quicker if at home. Identify emergency backup for childcare in the event your child is ill or injured. Head lice are particularly prevalent in Spring and Autumn. They are spread by direct contact and they love all children. Check your child's head regularly for small eggs about the size of a grain of salt glued to the base of hair shafts. Apply a recommended treatment and notify your child's teacher. Tie your child's hair up or keep it very short. Don't forget a visit to the dentist with your child prior to starting school and yearly throughout your child's schooling.
Nutrition
Good nutrition will have a positive impact on your child's learning. Breakfast should be nutritional e.g. Wheat biscuit, yogurt, toast and a piece of fruit. Turn off the TV in the mornings. Pack small, healthy, substantial foods for school that are easy to eat throughout the school day. Encourage your child to have a healthy morning tea. Practice unwrapping school lunches and opening lunchboxes at home prior to starting school. Have an early dinner or a nutritional snack after school. Don't forget to encourage your child to drink water. Not only is it healthy, but also readily available both at the bubbler and in a recyclable container. Don't forget to volunteer for the canteen. Your child will love to see you at the school.
Toileting & Self help skills
Encourage your child to wipe his/her own bottom and use the toilet independently. Parents need to have a positive attitude towards using public and school toilets to ensure their children use the toilet as required throughout the school day. Encourage your child's independence with dressing e.g. tying their shoelaces, removing their jumper, buttoning their shirt/uniform. Have a male in the family demonstrate to little boys how to stand at the urinal. Encourage your child to wash and dry their hands after toileting, after blowing their nose and before eating. Encourage your child to blow his/her own nose using a tissue or a handkerchief. Clearly label all your child's clothes and belongings with his/her name.
Exercise
Turn off the TV after school and visit your local park, swings, slippery dip, play equipment. Play with balls, water, sand etc. Exercise with your child. Physical activity is very important for children and adults. It helps to prevent obesity. Don't forget to wear sunscreen and a hat when outdoors. Encourage your child to participate in school activities throughout their schooling.
Positive attitude from parents
Be positive about your child's school, learning and teacher. Talk with your child about school, focus on the positive aspects. Parental involvement in school activities provides children with a sense of belonging. Don't forget to take care of yourself e.g. meet with your friends the first day of school. Don't believe all stories your child tells you. Always check with your child's teacher. Be prepared for your child to take 1-2 terms to adjust to school.
Getting to school
Practice the safest route to and from school, crossing the road safely, travelling by public transport. If driving, park in the safest place. Remember parents are role models. It is better to promote safety. Children should be shown how to look to the right and left, and to the right again before attempting to cross a road, then to walk quickly (not run) across the road. Parents must explain to their child that he/she must use traffic lights or pedestrian crossing if available when crossing a road. Children must learn that it is dangerous to step out from behind parked cars or buses. Parents should not call their children from across the street. Children are likely to run across without seeing danger. Children should be warned against loitering on their way home, visiting friends without permission, or going anywhere with strangers. The class teacher should be informed if anyone other than the parent will be picking up the child from school. This applies to both "home time" and early departure. If your child is picked up from school in car lines, please encurage them to learn how to put thier seat belt on and learn the number plate of the car/cars that will pick thme up.
Sleep
Tiredness is to be expected when your child starts school, so establish a routine of early to bed. Have 'time out' after school. Your child will learn through free play. Limit the additional extra curricular activities after school for the first year.
Special needs
Children with potential difficulties need additional assistance during the transition stage when starting school. Specialist advice and support is available to parents of children with special needs in accessing appropriate educational services. Talk to the school as early as possible about access to these services.