Over the last few weeks, children have learned all about their new school and making new friends. We focused on cooperation and getting along with others as well as establishing and solidifying the routines and expectations of school. Here are a few special ways you can reinforce at home what children have been learning.
• Establish routines that will help your child to be attentive in school, such as getting plenty of sleep, eating a healthy breakfast, and being ready on time.
• Ask the names of your child’s teachers and classmates. (We practice this daily at circle time!)
• Talk about the school schedule and sequence of activities during the school day. (Ask specific questions about their day...did you play on the playground? did you have motor room? did you build blocks? etc.)
• Practice safety rules to use when going to school and returning home every day. (holding hands in parking lots, look both way when crossing a street or parking lot, staying near your safe adult)
Most of all, promote cooperation at home every day, which will help your child make a smooth and positive transition to school. Cooperation at home can include age appropriate chores such as:
- Pick up/ put away toys
- Dust large furniture items with a feather duster or microfiber rag
- Put clothes in the dirty clothes hamper
- Collect dirty clothes
- Help get clothes from washer to dryer
- Help sort out recycling
- Help set table
- Help clear table
- Wash plastic dishes (with supervision)
- Match socks
- Fold dish towels
- Help weed the garden
