5 things your child should know before starting Prep
September 3rd, 2024
Starting Prep is a special milestone that brings a mix of excitement and nerves. As a parent, you may have concerns and questions about the year ahead and how to best prepare your child for this new chapter.
Amid the abundance of online advice about what children ‘must’ or ‘should know’ before starting school, it’s common for parents to feel the pressure to ensure their child grasps as many academic concepts as they can before starting primary school, such as their numbers and letters. However, this absolutely isn’t expected by Prep teachers. After all, the Prep year is all about learning and adjusting to school life.
Surprisingly, there are only a few key things your child should know before their first day. Ideally, Prep teachers like to see some independence and confidence in everyday skills that will enable your child to participate fully in the classroom and ease their transition into school life.
Here are the top five things your child should know before starting school, based on insights from our MLC Junior School Prep teachers:
Using the toilet
Before starting Prep, your child should be able to independently use the toilet and wash their hands, with the exception of children with special needs. Your child will most likely already be familiar with this process, especially if they have attended kindergarten.
Dressing themselves
While Prep teachers are always available to help, especially with tricky tasks like buttons and zips, your child should be able to take on and off their jumper and hat, pull up their pants/skirt, and put on their shoes and socks. Velcro shoes are an excellent option while your child continues to practice lace tying at home.
Eating and drinking independently
This may seem obvious, but eating and drinking involves several skills. This includes opening and closing lunch boxes and packets of food, using cutlery and drink bottles, and even having some basic table manners and awareness of hygiene. Eating and drinking independently comprises of many smaller, and often tricky, tasks. Before starting school, encourage your child to practice these skills at home to build their confidence.
Packing and unpacking
Throughout the school day, your child will regularly unpack and pack items such as colouring pencils, toy boxes and their school bag. Familiarising them with these activities will help them feel more confident and organised in the classroom – and make getting ready or school much simpler for you, too!
Follow the leader
Prep students will engage in activities where they learn to follow simple 2-or-4 part instructions, like “hang your coat on the rack and then from a circle”. While perfection isn’t required, preparing your child to listen and follow instructions early on can greatly benefit their school experience. Simple games such as ‘Follow the Leader’ and ‘Simon Says’ are fun ways to help develop these skills at home.