Is your child ready to start school? How to tell

It’s the time of year when parents of preschoolers across the country have started to think about, plan, and stress over their child being ready to start school. For first-time parents of children starting school, it can be daunting to start the preparations for formal education. This may be further exacerbated for parents who’s child may be on the borderline of school cut-off ages. They have to make the decision as to whether to send their child to school slightly younger than their peers, or slightly older.

Is my child ready to start school?

As parents, how can we tell if our child is ready to start school? Particularly if we have a choice in whether to send them one year or the next? Here is a bit of a checklist that might help you decide if your little one is ready for school:

Social development is crucial

If your child can interact well with others, is able to share (or is learning to share) and can follow instructions, they are more likely ready for school.

Children who struggle with listening (apart from hearing difficulties) or interacting with other students and adults may need extra support before they go to school. This may include putting them in a preschool environment where they learn to listen to educators and play with other children.

Independence skills are highly beneficial

Does your child still need support dressing themselves (like putting on their jumper or jacket)? Do you help them gett food out of a lunchbox or putting things in their bag? Will they need assistance washing their hands after going to the toilet? These are all skills students should be on their way to mastering before going to school. It will make school life easier on them (and their teachers!) and allow more time to be spent on learning.

They have some basic literacy and numeracy skills

It is very beneficial for everyone if children come to school with some basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Being able to identify and write their name or know some letters of the alphabet. The ability to recognise the numbers 0-10 and count to 10 are all very helpful foundations for their formal education. By having these basic concepts in place, your child can more readily build on them in kindergarten with the teacher’s support.

Your child can adjust to being away from you

Teachers understand that the transition to schooling is tough for both children and parents. However if your child is clinging to you as you walk out the door and crying a lot, time to get used to the transition of being away from you for a whole day (five days a week) might be necessary.

If your child needs to be in school next year, perhaps give them one or two days a week at a preschool. Or at the grandparents place. It will help them to adjust to the separation (for both of you!).

Moving to “big” school is a very big transition for any child to make, as well as for their parents.

It is another moment that makes us realise our children are growing up way too quickly, It also signals a time for increased learning, growth and development.

If your child is comfortable and able to perform the above skills, it means they are ready to transition to school. 

Are you wondering if your child is ready to start school?

“Is my Child ready to start School – how to tell” by Fi Morrison at mummamorrison.com