You can help your child prepare for their first year of school by:
having a daily routine
packing a healthy lunch
knowing your school
getting involved with your school
doing family activities at home
improve your child’s independence.
Before your child starts school, you should encourage them to be independent by helping them practice:
packing and carrying their own school bag
putting on their shoes
eating and drinking without help
going to the toilet on their own
using tissues to blow their nose
recognising their belongings.
Daily routines
Daily routines can help children understand what they need to do, when to do it each day and why it’s important.
To help prepare your child for school, get them into a routine which includes:
going to bed early
waking up at a certain time—leave plenty of time to get ready
having a healthy breakfast (needed for energy and concentration)
preparing and eating lunch
making time for physical activities.
Before your child starts school, make sure you talk to them about what to expect.
Remember to be flexible, as it may take them some time to understand their new routine and adjust socially.
School lunch
When packing your child’s lunch:
provide healthy and filling food and drinks (not sweets and chips) in realistic quantities for morning tea and lunch
make sure they can easily open wrapped items and their lunch box
provide a variety of smaller items instead of 1 or 2 large items
provide a water bottle every day and encourage your child to use it.
Find information on the healthy food and drinks tuckshops offer in Queensland.
Know your school
Help your child get to know the school environment and routine by:
driving past and walking around the school especially during school hours so your child gets used to the number of children, and their movements within the school grounds. Check-in with the school’s administration before walking around the school.
asking the school what equipment and materials your child needs, like a school bag, library bag or hat. Make sure all possessions are labelled with your child’s name.
Before their first day, your child should know how to easily find their classroom and where to:
put their things—like school bag and hat
have their lunch breaks
meet you each day when school is finished.
Encourage them to ask a teacher if they need help.
Find out more about before and after school care or contact us for more information.
Get involved with your school
Help your child get a good start to their education. Take an interest in their schooling, be positive about it and let them know it’s important to attend.
Get involved with their school by:
meeting the teacher.
informing the teacher of any changes affecting your child
talking to other parents
reading school newsletters and bulletin boards
attending school events like parent association meetings, fetes, open days or sporting carnivals.
Family activities at home
You can also help your child’s progress at school by doing family activities including:
reading aloud (develops concentration and awareness of language patterns)
and writing with them (e.g. shopping lists and letters)
stimulating their imagination and natural curiosity (e.g. visiting a zoo, park or airport)
playing sports, and card or board games (helps develop mathematical, problem solving, language and social skills)
shopping, walking or gardening together singing their songs and nursery rhymes together.