Is my child ready for school ?

Parents often worry whether or not their child is ready to begin school. This particularly happens when a child is four in the months immediately preceeding September. It is not possible to say at exactly what age all children are ready for school, as each child develops in different ways and at different paces. Some children, at four years are ready for school, and to hold them back simply because they are just four, would be denying them the extra challenge and stimulus they need, other children simply are not ready for school at four and to send them would be premature and risk giving them negative feelings about school, which could stay with them through their school life.

It is important to realise that each child is different, not only from other children of the same age but also from brothers and sisters.

To help you make up your mind on this crucial question, we have drawn up a set of indicators which should help you decide whether or not to send your child to school at four.

Is my child able to :

Mix well with other children / share toys sweets etc?
Listen to and respond to other adults, other than their parents?
Are they able to colour in, and complete simple jig saws?
Are they able to concentrate for short periods of time on a specific task?
Are they able to put two or more sentences together on a topic that they are familar with?

If the answer to the majority of the above questions is "Yes" then your child is ready for school.

Preparation for School

When your child is ready for school it is important to prepare him/her for this important step.

There are two main aspects to this preparation, preparation for learning and preparation for school life.

Preparation for learning:

Language: Listen attentively to your child, Talk to them and encourage them, give them time to explain and retell events to you. Avoid interrupting even if you know what they are going to say. When talking to your child don't use baby talk.
Reading: Read to your child regularly, ensure that reading is an enjoyable experience. Short enjoyable experiences are best. Pay attention to the mechanics of reading, holding the book, turning the pages, let your finger go under the words as you read from left to right. Examine and chat about pictures.
Co-ordination: Provide large sheets of paper and chubby crayons for scribbling, drawing tracing, copying etc. Allow your child to use scissors for cutting paper. Do plenty of activities which involve pouring, stirring, mixing, rolling etc.
Toys: Choose toys carefully. Children should have blocks to build, simple jig saws, construction toys etc. Encourage to build and make using odds and ends at home. Dolls / Teddys with clothes that can be buttoned zipped etc.
Confidence: If your children feel you have confidence in them they will feel they can achieve.

Preparation for school:

Talk to your child about your own school days, however don't hype up school life. Approach this with a calm attitude, treat it as a normal development in the child's life.
Children should be able to : Put on and take off coats. Use the toilet and flush it properly. Tidy up their crayons. Open and Close School Bag. Put things in their school bag. Use a handkerchief.
Allow your child to do things independently. Encourage confidence by having them dress themselves, allow time for this in the morning. Don't criticise if things are not exactly to your liking. Praise their efforts at every opportunity.
Children cannot be independent if they cannot manage the equipment you provide. The following suggestions may be helpful:

Shoes with a velcro fastener will enable children to change quickly and independently.
Zips may be easier than buttons for clothes.
Children should have a lunch box that they can open easily.
Some thought needs to be given to lunches Peeled oranges and set yogurt for example.

The above are general guidelines designed to help you and your child prepare for the beginning of their school life at Scoil na gCeithre Máistrí. It is always important to realize that each child is different, and will start to read and write at their own pace, just as they walk and talk at different ages.