Strategies you can use to help your child get ready to start school.

Getting ready to start school is an exciting and challenging time of your little persons life. Before they start school try these strategies that will help your child feel comfortable and familiar with their new school.

Usually you will be introduced to your child's school through an interview process in which you will be taking your child with you. If you have the time have a look around the school with your little person. This will give you and them an idea of where they will be spending their time. 

Try to allow time for your child to mix and observe the other children in the playground. Remember that school playgrounds are extremely noisy and hectic places for the little person to cope with. 

Visit the toilet block with them. Show them the correct hand washing procedure and ensure that they are comfortable with going to the toilet by themselves. 

For this visit you could pack their lunch and try to time one the visit at lunchtime so your little person can have lunch with the other children. Visit the school canteen. Introduce them to using money to purchase their lunch or drinks and snacks. Often for these visits the teachers will have some work for little people to do in the classroom. Encourage conversation with your little person about their visit to school.

If your little person has attended any form of child care service prior to big school, it is important to remember they will still experience a lot of change due to a number of factors. For instance at school there are fewer adults and more children. Class sizes are bigger, with limited space, due to tables and chairs. The size of the school buildings, and grounds are usually much larger. There are large numbers of noisy children.

Here are a few tips that you can implement at home before they start school to make things easier for them.