What is expected when they start school? My little one is due to start next year and I feel he is behind already. He knows ABC's, can count to ten and even count to twenty(may mix up a number or forget one), knows colours and shapes. Can draw and hold a pencil, but is struggling to recognise letters and numbers, and mixes up numbers and letters( ask to spell his name and will add a seven), I know it may seem silly to worry at this stage, but as someone who struggled at school I don't want my child to feel the same way. Any teachers or parents who have any suggestions on how I can help at home? He will be 5 at the end of the year and I'm trying my best but its so hard to know what is expected.
7 Replies
So when I started school I could count, hold a pencil knew my abcs and such but I couldn’t read till I was 8 and couldn’t spell till I was 12. Don’t stress :) each child learns differently I would know I’m a teacher :) they don’t expect kids to walk in and know everything. I have one kid in my class who has just finished their first book and we are in year two :)
If your super concerned when school starts after a few days or a week or so pop up see the teacher and ask what else you can do at home to help.
No point sending them to school if they know it before they get there!
Sounds like he is right, spot on where he needs to be.
I'd actually focus on skills like, can he open his lunch box, wipe his own bottom. Manage his own clothes like jumpers etc. zip up his bag and recognise his belongings.
The number of kids that rock up to school that can't manage simple tasks like taking a glue stick lid off or wiping there own nose is amazing.
Knowing abcs means absolutely nothing to help your child learn to read. Start teaching sounds if you want him to be ahead (he will learn in prep anyway), look up letterland, it’s a great program in teaching sounds. Also read to him, all the time, foster a love of books, rather than teaching. Teaching numbers is good, as long as the child understands what it means. Counting actual things is better than 1, 2, 3. Also, make sure he has a good pencil grip. That’s about it and let him guide you in what he wants to learn. Also play dates, learning to interact with other child appropriately is more important than academics. I agree with the poster above too, those skills are more important.
Literally nothing is expected of them. That’s why they’re just starting school. Research shows that children who start school “behind” (they’re not really behind) other kids whose parents have put them through pre-school education programs etc. catch up anyway. They all end up being where they would have been in the end regardless of how much per-school education they have had. Children start school at a set age for a reason. The time before these years is mean to be spent playing and learning about their world through play. Colours, numbers, reading, writing is all left until later for a reason. Your child will be fine. He is at absolutely no disadvantage whatsoever trust me.
At our school it is expected that the child is toilet trained, can wash their hands and can feed themselves. It really is mostly social, emotional and self care skills they need. Don't sweat, sounds like he's ahead academically speaking. If you are really worried, enroll him in a kindy for the rest of this year, they cover what the kids need to learn.
Op here, thank you for all the amazing advice!, we had picked up a phamplet about starting kindergarten and it was explaining about counting to thirty and backwards from thirty, and reading and comprehension and it was so daunting!- in my eyes his just my baby boy and I didn't want to hinder him by not knowing how to help him get ready. I really appreciate all the advice, thank you mamas xo
Don't stress - my son started prep this year and could barely write his name and count to 10. We are only 6 weeks into Term 1 and he can write his name perfectly; count to 30 and do basic addition (1+1 etc). They grow up so quickly just let him be a little boy