The ABCs of Preparation: Teaching Your Toddler the Basics for School

 Starting school is one of the biggest milestones in the lives of children and their parents, and as such, it requires well-timed preparation. If you’re getting ready to send your little ones to the next chapter of their educational journey, you know that many questions and unknowns can only be answered in time. Preparation will set them up for success, and there are many more things you’ll learn with your kids as they grow and get used to this new reality.

Still, there’s a lot your children can learn with some planning and encouragement from your side. Helping them learn basics through everyday play, sparking their curiosity, and teaching them how to express their emotions and needs could make starting school a much smoother and even fun experience. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get started.

It All Starts with a Routine

You already know that raising children is all about setting up a routine that works for you and them. Naturally, as your little ones grow up, you’ll tweak their routine accordingly, and as the time comes for them to start school, it’s a good idea to build a routine similar to one they’ll have for years to come.

To make this happen, you can create a daily schedule that you’ll follow, including set times for waking up, playing, meals, preparing for, and going to bed. As your child starts to get the hang of the routine, you can diversify their playtime to include anything from learning numbers or the alphabet and coloring to playing independently. This layered routine could help them develop a focus on different tasks, and knowing how their day will look gives kids a sense of security and comfort, all of which will do them a world of good when school begins.

Help Your Kids Build Confidence and Independence

Your kids will spend several hours a day away from home and you, and getting used to a new environment and habits takes time. A great way to make it all exciting instead of daunting for your young ones is to teach them how to take care of themselves in small ways. 

Independence can take many forms, including putting on their shoes, using the bathroom on their own, and knowing how to zip their jacket without asking for help. On the one side, this approach will help them build confidence in everything they do, and on the other, they’ll know how to ask for help when they’re struggling. It’s a good idea to have easy-care uniform shirts for kids to minimize any wardrobe struggles your kids could face, all the while looking neat and comfortable.

Hone Your Children’s Social Skills

You can help your kids develop social skills from a very young age, and as you prepare them for starting school, know that feeling good among peers and teachers will make a big difference. There are many different ways you can encourage socializing and even mix-and-match approaches to see what works best for your little ones. 

Organizing playdates with other parents and their kids is a traditionally good start and it can be beneficial for both you and your kids. You can also attend parent-child classes to learn more about things you and your kid are interested in. Good manners are learned at home, so teach your kids how to respectfully greet their teachers, say “please” and “thank you” when appropriate, and express their needs clearly. All this will help them establish strong connections at school and navigate the world as they grow up.

Teach Them about Letters and Numbers

Learning letters and numbers can be a fun experience, and you don’t have to wait for your kids to start school to teach them. Kids can recognize letters and numbers as toddlers, and as they get older, they can learn how to count and have basic reading skills. 

The key here is to make the learning experience interesting for your kids and make them curious about literacy and numeracy. You can do this by incorporating mini-lessons about words and numbers into daily activities, like counting their toys or snacks, singing nursery rhymes, and reading alphabet books together. Starting school with these skills could help your kids have a positive approach to learning that will stick.

Recognize Signs of Separation Anxiety and Address It Gently

Chances are your kids aren’t used to spending a good part of the day away from you, so some separation anxiety is all but natural. While the idea of separation can be overwhelming to some kids, it’s important you address this with them gently and help them understand how their days will look moving forward. 

This is where having a routine is also very useful, and your kids know that you’ll always be there when they come home from school. You can also leave them with their grandparents or trusted friends for short periods so that they learn from experience that even when you’re separated, you’ll always return. Having a special goodbye routine like hugging or saying “I love you” can also go a long way for your kids to feel supported and loved as they go to school.

Conclusion

There are many different things you can do to make your kids more comfortable with the big change that is starting school, it’s all about shaping these preparations to fit your child’s sensibility. Having a routine, building their independence and confidence, and honing their social skills could make all the difference in how they approach school and all the experiences connected to it. Add to that basics about literacy and numeracy and addressing their anxieties, and you’ve got a map that will make the preparation for school both manageable and fun.