School readiness at home

Preparing your preschooler for school can start at home and goes beyond them learning to count and write their name.

It includes teaching them some basic skills such as listening to others, asking questions and feeling comfortable in the world around them so that they are able to cope independently in a new social environment when they start school.
 

School readiness at home

 

7 Basic skills to help get your preschooler ready for school

Here are some basic skills you can teach your preschooler at home so they’re prepared for when they start school.

1. Academic knowledge

 

• Teaching your preschooler the names of basic colours and shapes is important.

 

• Show them the basic shapes in letters and numbers and in what ways shapes are different from one and other. 

 

2. Knowledge of the world & the environment

 

• Going out and about with your preschooler, visiting different places, travelling on different vehicles (eg boat, bike, bus, train, plane), talking with different people, seeing and trying different things are essential and help them gain an understanding of the world around them.

 

• Giving preschoolers lots of varied experiences will help them adapt to their new school environment.

 

3. Self-help skills

 

• Teach your preschooler to dress and undress themselves, go to the bathroom and wash their hands unassisted and without being reminded and encourage them to tidy up after playing. 

 

• Once at school they will need to be able to do all those things without the help of an adult.

 

4. Listening skills

 

• Reading to preschoolers on a regular basis is crucial as it teaches them to listen to you and the story.

 

• Talking with preschoolers about things and focusing their attention on what they are seeing and hearing before they start school will help them to listen to what their teacher is telling them in class.

 

5. Curiosity and questioning skills

 

• Responding to your preschooler's questions and sharing in their curiosity, by discovering answers and new information together, will help them question the teacher when they don’t fully understand things.

 

6. Fine motor and coordination skills

 

• Help your preschooler build their hand muscles so that when they need to hold a pen and write at school it will be a little easier for them.

 

• Great activities to help develop their fine motor and coordination skills include drawing and cutting activities, playing with puzzles, water pouring, playing with play dough and using clay, threading large beads and hammering activities.

 

7. Independence and responsibility

 

• You can help foster your preschooler’s independence by arranging visits to their friends and extended family members, and letting them stay there without you for a short time.

 

• Praise your preschooler when they do something that shows independence.

Check out our other Hot Topics on:

• Learning practical skills for school
• 12 Tips for starting school
• Developing the pincer grip

 
Source: This article was written by Helene Girard at KiwiOz Nannies - NZ’s most referred nanny & educator placement agency.