Emma Fallon- Senco New Bridge Nursery School

Emma Fallon- Senco New Bridge Nursery School

Emma Fallon- Senco @ New Bridge Nursery School

School Transition

Activities for parents to do with their children in preparation for starting school

Dressing and undressing

Practice putting clothes on dolls and teddies. Practice putting own clothes on with help and encourage independence with children attempting to dress themselves.

•Toileting

Work on helping your child to become dry. For advice and support on toileting issues speak to your health visitor or online there any many useful toileting websites including:

Developing fine motor skills working towards holding a pencil correctly and attempting to write their name

Start with activities such as using the index finger to make shapes in sand, shaving foam, ooblique (cornflour and water mixed together). Use playdough to make snakes, balls and then letter shapes. Practice picking up small objects with 2 fingers and moving them into 2 separate bowls. Then try moving the objects using a spoon, then tweezers. Encourage any mark making with pens, pencils, crayons and help your child to start developing a tripod pencil grip.

Developing social skills

Arrange playdates at your home or a park/soft play centre with a variety of children including some who are going to your child’s school. Show your child how to play with others and how to take turns. Model to your child how we approach others in social situations. For example demonstrate how to ask other children how to play:

‘Hello my name is Jonah’, or ‘Please can I play?’

Language modelling can be simplified depending on your child’s language skills. A friendly:

‘hello’

Can be a positive social cue to interaction with other children. Also show your child how to approach other children and play alongside and with them.Encouraging your child to play with a variety of children will help them to make relationships and learn social skills.

Developing co-operative skills and responsibility

Encourage your child to put toys away after playing with them. Involve them in tasks such as setting the table for tea. Many children love to have a ‘special job’ and enjoy the responsibility and the rewards of helping others.

Developing sharing skills

When playing with your child demonstrate how to share and take turns. This can be a hard skill for some children to master so the more you play with your child and demonstrate good turn taking the better. Also playdates will help this skill to develop.

Remember- Don’t give up! If your child struggles with some or all of the above skills don’t worry. They will get there in their own time and with the support of their parents and their teachers/key workers.

If you have any specific questions feel free to ask me.

Emma Fallon

Senco- New Bridge Nursery School