It is a huge step for children and parents alike to begin school. While you can be rushing off to purchase school supplies and school attire, the most important preparation occurs far in advance of the first day of school. Whether your child succeeds at school is less about them being a good student and more about having the fundamental day-to-day skills that allow them to enter this new challenge feeling secure.
These four basic learning skills will give your 5-year-old the foundation for success in his or her first year of school.
1. Social Skills Are the Basis for Learning
Your child will be at school most of the day with the other children and teachers. In class, in order to do well, sharing, having a turn at activities, and listening when someone is speaking becomes very essential.
Children who are able to share toys and materials without hesitation work together in groups. They are able to play, complete class work, and make friends without a problem. Sharing and taking turns also instil patience and respect for other people—habits that will serve them well far beyond the playground.
Listening has a direct impact on learning. If your child can listen to the instructor when they are providing guidance and listen during reading, they learn. It also allows them to listen to classroom routine and learn classroom rules. If they thrive in professional childcare with qualified teachers at Cressy Road Early Learning, for example, they may just be ready for the next step.
Practice these skills in the home setting by having family game nights, play dates, and in daily conversations. Teach your child to take turns to speak and praise them when they do it with friends or siblings.
2. Basic Literacy Opens Doors to Learning
Your child doesn’t have to learn to read chapter books before they enter school, but to know their name and be familiar with a few letters gives them confidence in the classroom.
Name recognition allows the children to find their cubby, identify their own artwork, and identify their own belongings. This simple skill reduces stress and allows them to feel comfortable in this new classroom.
Learning must be enjoyable, therefore, reinforce letters throughout the day. Look for the first letter of their name on street signs, in books, and on packages. Practice writing their name on drawings and have them trace the letters.
3. Following Directions Encourages Autonomy
The class is structured and routine-based. The children who can understand and comply with simple, multistep directions have more effective classroom cultural transitions and are more independent.
Instructions are provided every day by teachers, from “Put your backpack in your cubby and sit on the carpet, please” to “Get out your crayons and colour the circle red.” Students who can process instructions and do them have less time being puzzled and more time being engaged with learning.
This skill also promotes safety. Students who obey directions on playground procedures, hallway walking, and crisis drill protocols are more safe and help to create a perfect learning environment for everyone.
Start with simple two-step instructions at home, such as “Wash your hands and remove your shoes.” Progressively add complexity to make it more difficult as your child gets better at each step.
4. Emotional Resilience Underlies Long-Term Success
School-going involves being separated from parents and adjusting to new habits. Kids who deal with such emotional challenges more transparently focus more intensely on learning and on forming relationships.
Separation anxiety is common, and children who have had brief separations between childcare and home adjust most easily. They know that parents always come back and feel secure and can venture into new relationships with teachers and peers.
Emotional regulation aids children in handling frustration when things are not easy or while disagreeing with others. They can request aid in a proper way and bounce back from disappointment quicker.
Build emotional resilience through the validation of your child’s emotions and support of problem-solving. Establish short separations with familiar caregivers and talk about the future school experience in a positive way.
Setting Your Child Up for Success
The four skills combined are an excellent foundation for your child to learn from. Social skills allow them to communicate with other people, basic literacy exposes them to material to learn, following instructions allows them to be independent, and emotional resilience equips them to face hard times.
