Little is starting school in September. (See how calmly I typed that?) She is already excited about it and can’t wait to follow in Big’s footsteps. She currently attends the local pre-school each morning, where she has two best friends and lots of fun. She is confident and gregarious and I’m thinking she’ll find the transition to school OK, but I’ve been thinking about how I can help her get ready for her next step. I have no checklist of ‘Things Your Child Should Be Able To Do When They Start School’ in mind – that’s not how I think at all. But there are certain things it would be useful if she’d practised or skills she’d tried, before September rolls around.
Thinking ahead gives us plenty of time to play around with the idea of school. I thought I’d share some thoughts with you on a ‘Starting School’ theme as we go along – and hope you’ll offer some comments and ideas too. (And if you are homeschooling I hope you’ll still find some of the later topics relevant.)
Launching the Starting School topic is ‘School Dinners’.
Eating lunch somewhere unfamilar, helped by unfamilar adults can be a big deal. So how about some trial runs before the big day? We started off by going shopping for a special lunchbag and drinks bottle, chosen by Little herself. Then I let Little play with them – getting used to opening and closing them and having a pretend school lunch. This gives lots of opportunity to practice what might happen at school. We chatted about what she might like to eat and who she can ask to help her peel her banana. (Please note how many slices of cake she packed for herself.) If your child is going to be having dinners provided by the school they might benefit from practice at carrying a tray.
After Easter Little’s pre-school is running a Lunch Club one day a week, where the children can stay half an hour longer than usual had have lunch. This is a perfect first step, in a familar environment. If your own pre-school doesn’t offer a lunch club, maybe you could suggest one? Alternatively you could pair up with a friend and take turns hosting your own lunchclub at eachothers house.
Even if your child is used to having meals at a nursery this kind of roleplay is valuable. Get them used to the bag, bottles, containers they will be using at school. Can they open their own yoghurt pot? Unwrap the clingfilm on their sandwiches? You’d hate them to go hungry simply because they couldn’t get at their food.
So, those are my thoughts around school dinners. Do you have any other suggestions – I’d love you to leave a comment. And if there are any other topics you’d like me to cover, please let me know and I’ll do a post so we can swap ideas.
I never even thought of that aspect of children starting school. Great thinking, Mom!
Hi Kim – I think the ‘little’ things we might take for granted can be make or break for Littlies. Role play is so good for trying things out.
My daughter is starting school in September. My main concern is that she is always with me, she doesn’t attend pre-school she does classes on her own etc. I never leave her with anyone aside from her Father, I have done though. I think we are both going to have separation anxiety!
It’s funny you mention the school lunches, when I was looking around my daughters school they said “and here’s where the reception class sit and their food is brought to them the first 6 months or something and then we encourage them to carry their own trays” I didn’t ever think about it at all!
Hi Nat, It can be just as big a step for us as them, I think. Hope you find the rest of the series has some useful ideas for you.
Great ideas here Hope that the 1st day at school goes smoothly 🙂
Thanks Ms B.Thrift – I hope so too!
I am so with you on this, as Mini starts school too. When Maxi started in September my posts were all about how will he cope with the pastorial stuff, the taking a plate to the table and eating with a knife and fork. The thing is his school work really hard at it. He has been taught about making healthy decisions, they only have a choise or water or milk with meals and for the first term they sit with one of the older children, who hellp them make sensible choices.
I love this, it made me feel so much more relaxed about the whole school issue
Hi Mum at themadhouse, It’s my second time round too, which makes it easier. Sounds like you have a great school, which thinks about the whole child, not just the academic stuff.
Great idea! Love how she packed all those slices of cake. Too cute!
Valerie, she has her mother’s tastes!
I will be sending my last and 8th child off to kdg next year. I think I am the one who needs help – she will do fine! And I agree it is a good idea to be sure they can open their own food –
What a sweet tackle!!
That is a really good idea! And I just love that the preschool is helping transition the kids – that is awesome!!
My Oldest will start in Sept – things we are working on are eating lunch without getting covered in it, wiping own bottom properly after a number two, and doing up own coat. My biggest worry though, is that she doesn’t know a soul at her new school – we were allocated a different one to all her friends, poor little thing! How about a post about making friends?
Great idea Natural Mummy. My oldest was in a similar position when she started school, so I know how you feel. I’ll definitely include making friends in the series. Thanks very much for your comment. Cathy
I loved reading this from ‘the other side’ – as a nursery teacher I hadn’t quite thought of the ‘stress’ involved in taking lunch in school for the first time. This post will help me to make sure the children in my class have a fun time at lunch.
That’s lovely to hear Kierna 🙂