First grade is a big milestone for a child. This may be the first time your child is going to school for a full day, it may be the first time they ride a school bus, and they may experience more academic-based learning than in earlier years.
Your child will be expected to understand how to use self-help skills in their learning environment (tying their shoes, zipping their coat, washing their hands), so practicing these tasks will prove quite helpful.
In first grade, your child will practice reading skills. Knowledge of letter sounds, sight words, sounding out words, and early reading skills will help to set your child up for success.
What are some other ways you can help to prepare your child for first grade?
Visit the school.
If this is a new school for your child, visiting the school and a first-grade classroom can help to ease anxiety related to this big transition. It is common for an orientation or open house to be scheduled for students to visit the building and to meet their teacher. Attending these events will benefit your child greatly.
When you visit, don’t hesitate to ask questions. Ask about what your child’s schedule will look like, what they’ll be learning this year, what they need to bring with them each day, and any other questions you may have.
Practice fine motor activities and self-help skills.
If you ask any early year’s teacher what skills they hope their students come to school with, many will likely respond that they hope a child can use self-help skills.
Self-help skills refers to any skill that a child can use to help themselves. Examples of self-help skills include independent hand washing, fastening a jacket, tying shoes, opening items in their lunch, and finding and utilizing classroom items.
At home, try practicing these skills by setting up scenarios that mimic what may happen in the classroom. For example, pack your child a lunch in their school lunch box. Include items that will likely be sent to school and ask your child to open each item independently. Teach your child how to tear open snack packages or how to peel an orange.
Practice fine motor skills at home to help strengthen little hands for completing self-help skills and for academic activities like writing. Our Busy Board Switches Toy will pique your child’s interest and enhance their dexterity and grip strength.
Make learning fun: practice literacy and math skills through play.
In first grade, there will be a strong focus on academics. Practice writing skills with your child by using our LCD Tablet for Drawing. Working on proper hand grip with your child will help them to have adequate control when writing, which will allow them to write more clearly.
Letter, color, shape, and number puzzles and games are a fun way for you to practice skills while spending quality time with your child. Try using small colored blocks to practice color identification, counting, sorting, and stacking. Search for letters around your home or out in the community. Try to find each letter of the alphabet with your child.
Preparing your child for first grade may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. The main focus should be to help ease your child’s anxiety surrounding the transition and help them to navigate any big emotions they may be feeling.
It is also important to help your child to prepare by practicing self-help skills to encourage independence, and to work on academic skills like writing, literacy, and math.
Remember to remind your child that school is fun! They’ll make new friends, learn new things, and they will have a fantastic year.
