How to prepare kids to start school

Starting school is a significant milestone in a child's life, and as a parent, you play a crucial role in preparing your little one for this exciting journey.

We spoke to Sophie Sparks the founder of YOU CAN SIT WITH ME, an inclusive evidence-based, peer-led program that aims to eradicate school refusal, social isolation, bullying and non-inclusive behaviour to find out some tips on how to help your child settle into their school life.

YOU CAN SIT WITH ME was founded in 2015 by Sophie Sparks who has over 30 years teaching experience across the UK, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Here are her tips for each age group leading up to starting school and to keep in mind during those first months of their school life.

At this stage, your focus should be on developing your child's basic skills and fostering a love for learning.

At this stage, it’s crucial to focus on building a strong foundation for learning, socialisation and independence. Some tips are talking positively about starting pre-school and visit the school together before they start and practice short separations to build confidence.

Language development

• Read to your child daily, pointing out pictures and asking simple questions.
• Engage in conversations, encouraging your child to express themselves.
• Introduce new words regularly in everyday contexts

Social skills

• Arrange playdates to help your child learn to share and interact with peers.
• Teach basic manners like "please," "thank you," and "excuse me."
• Encourage independent play to build confidence and creativity

Motor skills

• Provide opportunities for physical play, like running, jumping, and climbing.
• Introduce simple puzzles and building blocks to develop fine motor skills.
• Encourage drawing and scribbling with crayons or finger paints

Routine and independence

• Establish consistent daily routines for meals, naps, and bedtime.
• Encourage self-help skills like washing hands and putting away toys

As your child grows, it's time to introduce more structured learning experiences and expand their skill set.

This is an important stage in the journey to starting school. At 3-4 years old children are curious, eager to learn and beginning to develop social and emotional skills. Parents can help their children by building on the tips outlined for 2–3-year-olds by developing routines such as a calming bedtime routine so your child is fresh for learning the next day.

Cognitive development

• Play memory games and simple board games to enhance thinking skills.
• Introduce basic concepts like colours, shapes, and numbers through play.
• Encourage curiosity by answering questions and exploring topics of interest together

Pre-literacy skills

• Practice the alphabet through songs, books, and games.
• Encourage "pretend writing" and provide materials for scribbling and drawing.
• Play rhyming games and read books with rhymes to develop phonological awareness

Emotional intelligence

• Help your child identify and express emotions appropriately
• Teach problem-solving skills for simple conflicts
• Encourage empathy by discussing characters' feelings in stories

Fine motor skills

• Introduce activities like cutting with safety scissors, stringing beads, and using playdough.
• Encourage self-dressing skills, including buttoning and zipping

Following instructions

• Give simple, two-step instructions and praise successful completion.
• Play games that involve following directions, like "Simon Says"

The year before school starts is crucial for fine-tuning skills and building confidence.

This is a key time to build confidence and essential skills for the classroom. Encouraging independence through tasks like packing a bag or washing hands and improving fine motor skills with activities like drawing or threading beads, helps prepare children. Social skills can be developed through group play and sharing, while reading and practicing numbers and letters introduce early literacy and numeracy. These steps ensure children feel ready and excited for school.

Academic readiness

• Practice writing their name and recognising letters and numbers.
• Introduce basic math concepts through everyday activities, like counting objects or discussing shapes in the environment.
• Encourage an interest in science through simple experiments and nature walks

Social-emotional preparation

• Role-play school scenarios to familiarise your child with classroom expectations.
• Discuss feelings about starting school and address any concerns.
• Arrange visits to the school if possible or drive by regularly to build familiarity

Independence and self-care

• Teach and practice skills like using the bathroom independently, opening lunch containers, and putting on a backpack.
• Encourage responsibility by assigning simple chores at home

Attention and focus

• Gradually increase the duration of seated activities to build attention span.
• Introduce activities that require following multi-step instructions

Technology skills

• If appropriate, introduce basic computer skills like using a mouse or touchpad.
• Ensure balanced screen time with plenty of physical activity and hands-on learning

Use the months leading up to the first day of school for final preparations and excitement-building.

Establish a school-like routine

• Adjust sleep schedules to match school times.
• Practice the morning routine, including dressing and eating breakfast

School supply shopping

• Involve your child in choosing school supplies to build excitement.
• Practice using new items like lunch boxes and water bottles

Boost confidence

• Remind your child of all the skills they've learned and reinforce how ready they are
• Create a photo album or scrapbook of their journey to starting school

Address anxieties

• Read books about starting school and discuss any worries.
• Plan a special "first day of school" outfit or ritual to look forward to

Throughout your child's journey to school readiness, keep these general tips in mind:

1. Lead by example: Show enthusiasm for learning and reading in your daily life.
2. Embrace teachable moments: Turn everyday experiences into learning opportunities.
3. Celebrate efforts: Focus on praising effort and progress rather than just results.
4. Maintain a positive attitude: Your child will pick up on your feelings about school, so stay positive and excited.
5. Encourage curiosity: Foster a love for learning by exploring your child's interests together.
6. Balance structure and free play: While preparing for school is important, don't forget the value of unstructured playtime.
7. Communicate with educators: If your child attends preschool, stay in touch with teachers about areas to focus on at home.
8. Recognise individual pace: Every child develops differently. Focus on progress, not comparison with others.
9. Prioritise health: Ensure your child gets enough sleep, eats a balanced diet, and stays active.
10. Make learning fun: Incorporate games, songs, and hands-on activities into your learning routines.

Remember, preparing your child for school is a gradual process. By following this staged approach and keeping these tips in mind, you'll help your child develop the skills, confidence, and excitement needed for a successful start to their school journey.

The most important thing is to enjoy this special time with your child. Your love, support, and engagement are the most powerful tools in preparing them for the adventures that lie ahead in the classroom and beyond.

As your child enters school, parents may want to start building their family’s awareness of digital safety.

Optus Digital Thumbprint is an multi award-winning program that supports digital safety and wellbeing for young people and families. The program is endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider.

Our school program is curriculum-aligned and since launching in 2013 has educated over 650,000 Australian primary and secondary students with workshops delivered by highly qualified facilitators in the classroom, or by teachers who use an interactive digital platform to deliver the content in their classrooms.

Optus is proud to support Safer Internet Day and through programs like Optus Digital Thumbprint, we’re not only helping to make the internet a safer, more positive place, we are helping young people achieve, thrive and belong in today’s digital world.

YOU CAN SIT WITH ME is an inclusive program for schools, sporting clubs and community groups designed to stamp out school refusal, non-inclusive behaviours and bullying. It is a highly visible yellow wristband with a life changing message.The vibrant yellow colour symbolises warmth and approachability allowing wearers to convey the message of inclusivity. The wristband is a symbol of unity and an invitation to connect students regardless of age, race, religion, gender or ability.

YOU CAN SIT WITH ME was founded in 2015 by Sophie Sparks who has over 30 years teaching experience across the UK, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Throughout Sophie’s teaching career she has had the opportunity to work with children globally. Sophie Sparks has worked with children in England, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia of varying ages, races, religions, disabilities and educational needs. It was through her work that she become aware and deeply concerned about children suffering from non-inclusive behaviour, bullying, anxiety, depression and loneliness as a result of feeling isolated.

After researching these problems, Sophie found the statistical evidence to support that what she was witnessing in the playgrounds, classrooms, sporting clubs and communities was very much becoming a worldwide epidemic.

Sophie created the very simple message ‘YOU CAN SIT WITH ME’ in response to non-inclusive behaviour and bullying and believes by bringing community groups together, we can change children’s lives.

Optus Digital Thumbprint supports digital safety and wellbeing for young people and families. Find out more at www.digitalthumbprint.com.au

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