Parent’s Guide to Help a Preschooler Prepare for Big School

Now that your preschooler is about to embark on one of life’s many milestones—Big School (or elementary school), it is only commonplace that you contemplate on whether or not you have done the best you can to prepare him for it. Below is a parent’s guide to helping a preschooler prepare for Big School, ensuring that you identify the skills that most schools deem necessary for any first grader:

Reading skills

Most first graders are expected to be able to read and comprehend simple text. If your child is already starting to read, you can enhance his skills by creating more opportunities for him to read. These can include posting notes or leaving short messages on a board, reading labels or ingredients of everyday items, reading aloud and pointing to the words as you read.

 

Following instructions

You can help your child improve this skill by giving him simple chores. Make sure, though, that you give specific and clear instructions for your five or six-year old child. Some examples would be asking him to get the red bag on the table next to the refrigerator, match the socks from the laundry basket and fold them together, and things like these. If you feel that your child may still be struggling to comprehend your instructions, you can help him by showing him how to do them first.

 

Click here to read on about other skills your first grader needs.

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Here are more skills necessary for your first grader.

 

Emotional intelligence

The virtues of patience and waiting for one’s turn are necessary skills to develop at this stage. Again, you can set up some simple activities to develop these traits. You can play games or board games and make sure that before you start, all rules are clear. You can make a practice run before playing the game so your child can know the dos and don’ts.

Seek opportunities that would allow him to wait for a few minutes (like standing in line or waiting in the car) and be his role model. You can do this by showing how much fun you can have even if you are just waiting. It’s important to develop both his emotional intelligence and mental intelligence as they go hand in hand in future development and success.

 

Striving for independence

Most schools do not allow yayas or guardians to stay in school during this stage. Thus, it would be wise that you encourage your child to do certain things on his own at least a month before the opening of classes.

You can ask him to eat alone or with his peers so he can learn to resist playing first before eating. You can also start teaching him how to gather his things and how to pack them away.  Give your child opportunities to try remembering the things he brought out and the things that he should put back in his bag or in a toy container. You may guide him by asking questions but not by telling him what to do, otherwise, he will forget them soon enough.

As your preschooler enters big school, it is all the more important that you continue to encourage him, to get involved in his activities, and to be patient as your child develops. Apart from this parent’s guide to help a preschooler prepare for big school, look for other materials like online activities and worksheets to help develop your child’s reading skills, ability to follow instructions, patience and independence.

 

Photography by Tootoots Leyesa