How Do I Help My Child Before School Starts?

School is starting right around the corner! Pretty soon, you'll know who your child's teacher is and what supplies s/he needs. But in the weeks leading up to school starting, there are a few things that you can do help prepare your child for a wonderful school year:

1. Help your child to learn his or her address and phone number. This is a smart thing to do for personal safety reasons, and as often as we use this information as adults, your child may not know it. I helped my own children to learn their address and phone number this way: I taped the info on the wall next to their beds. Each night at bedtime, I'd read it out loud. Then they'd read it out loud (you could read it together in between too). It became part of our routine before we started reading. After a week or so, I covered up the first line with my hand and we did it. When they got good at that, I covered up the next line. When they got good at that, I covered up the phone number. It took a few weeks of constant nightly repetition to get it, but it was easy and fun and my girls were proud when they could say it themselves. Don't worry too much about young children writing these things correctly - verbalizing it is a bigger importance in terms of safety!

2. Work on dressing independently. This includes coat zippers, pants buttons, and when the weather requires it, things like mittens and hats. Your child's teacher will help if needed, but with 22 or so children to get to lunch/recess/home on time, it is best when they can do it themselves!

3. Work on shoe tying. Sometimes this takes time, and your child may not be tying independently on day one. Don't worry. Just make it a positive goal and work on it regularly. Untied shoes can be a safety hazard on the bus, in a stairwell, at recess or gym, during a fire drill, or even in the classroom. If you're not sure how to work on it, there are lots of videos on YouTube to help! :)

4. Work on opening snacks and lunches independently. Some of these things take practice, but havign taught first grade for 18 years, trust me that your little ones are very capable! We do allow them to use child scissors to open small sealed bags or packages if they can't be opened easily by hand. Also, allowing your child to peel their own oranges or bananas is good practice for doing it at school! :)

Most of all, please don't stress. Every child learns at different rates and with different levels of efficiency. Our job is to build and support independence. Town Center teachers are very kind and willing to help your child as needed. Getting a head start on these independence goals will go a long way!