For those of you reading this in the States or Canada or anywhere else where the child does not start school until he/she is about six, this might not make sense to you. In the UK children start mainstream school when they are four. Reception Year in the UK. Pre-school to you or maybe kindergarten?!!
There are many things the parent can do to prepare the child for going to school.
1. Toilet train them.
This might sound obvious to you, but some children have not been trained to take themselves to the toilet, to wipe their own bottoms or to pull up their own pants. The teacher cannot do this for the child. For one there are too many children in the class and for two, they do not want to be accused of assulting the child. If for any reason the child is still in diapers, then even more problems would arise.
2. Teach your child to dress themself.
Again this might sound obvious to you as a parent. However some children go to school not being able to put the basic of clothes on. We are not talking here about doing up buttons or shoelaces or zips. That will come later. Just the basic putting on of everyday clothing.
3. Get your child used to being without you.
Start with just a few minutes and build up over time to leaving them with someone else for several hours.
4. Talk to them about what it will be like at school.
Discuss the sort of activities your child will be doing at school... reading, playing, drawing, counting, painting, sharing, making new friends, etc.
5. Teach your child good manners.
Teach your child to say please, and thank you. Help them to learn how to share and take turns. Teach your child that sometimes they have to wait, that the adult might be busy doing something else.
6. Give praise for successes, no matter how small.
A young child learn lots and has successes daily. Give praise for them so the child knows to value him/herself. Children learn at different rates. Even if you have identical twins, they are each unique. Do not compare your child's successes with another's. They will be different.
7. Let your child know it is OK to make mistakes.
Making mistakes is part of the learning process. It is alright to make mistakes. Perseverence is learnt from making mistakes.