Sometime during the ages of five to six, your preschooler will be moving on to “Big School”.  Depending on the educational system in your area, she may be entering kindergarten or first grade.  Either way, “big school” will definitely be different from the preschool atmosphere she’s become used to.

One major change that your preschooler has to adapt to in big school is a larger class size.  A normal class in nursery or preschool has 8-10 students per class.  By kindergarten and primary grade, the class size can double to at least 20 students or more.  Another big adjustment for your child will be having just one teacher in class, whereas in preschool she probably had two.  With more kids and less adults in a class, your child will need to learn about being more independent.  She’ll also have to show more initiative during the learning process itself.

You can help your child prepare for a secure transition into big school with some fun and practical activities at home.  These activities simulate things he’ll need to do by himself in big school, which his preschool teacher may have usually helped him with before.  The goal is to make your preschooler become less dependent on the teacher and more capable on his own. 

1)      Have a pretend school lunch time at home.  Pack a lunch for your child as you intend to do for him in big school.  Pack one for yourself too, if you have extra kits.  During lunch time, see if your child can easily open and close his water bottle and any other containers.  Make sure he finishes his food. Run through packing away completely.  Show him how to check that his water bottle is closed all the way to avoid any spills.  Check that he disposes of his trash properly.

2)      Go through the more ‘challenging’ articles of clothing your preschooler’s closet.    Train him to dress and undress himself, especially in preparation for going to the bathroom in big school on his own.    See that he’s able to fasten and unfasten the different kinds of buttons, zippers and snaps.  Train him to always wash his hands well before leaving the bathroom.

3)      Practice your child on getting himself into and out of weather outfits like raincoats, snowsuits and boots.  See if he can manage zippers, drawstrings and other clasps on his own.  If you have a coat-hanger adjusted to your child’s height, show him the proper way to hang his weather gear so that he’ll know how to do it himself at the coat-room in school.

4)      Teach your child how to tie his shoelaces by himself.  Start by using two laces of different colors, so that when you make the first knot then the ‘bunny ears’, he can see which one goes over and which one goes under.  If all the shoelaces at home are one color, you can also use yarn.  Have him practice on his own laces.

You’ll also want to have age-appropriate practice sessions on  the “3 Rs”; Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic.  Big school will begin to put more emphasis on the formal teaching of these skills, as against the play-school approach that was used on them before.  The following exercises are still in line with making your preschooler more comfortable about, and better prepared for the coming move to his new school.

For reading practice, take a walk or a ride with your child around the neighborhood on route to his new school.  Have him read the street signs you pass in order to familiarize himself with the area.  Read signs of landmarks together, like convenience stores and restaurants. If it’s possible to take a walk within the grounds of his new school, take him around to read the signs there.  Find the rooms labeled “Kindergarten”,  “Clinic”, “Restroom”, “Cafeteria” and “Fire exit”.

To practice his writing, have him write down his full name and birth date.  Also have him copy your full name, your address, your telephone number on pad paper.  Aside from brushing up on his writing skills for both letters and numbers, you’re also helping him memorize vital information he needs when he’s away from home.

For some basic math refreshers, orient your child to coins and small bills.  Teach him how to count money and to add up or take away cents.  If you plan to send your preschooler some milk money in big school, train him to keep track of how much he has and how much he spends.

Jen looks back fondly on a happy childhood, and wanted to be a MOM when she 'grew up'.  Now she basks in the glow of motherhood, with a first-grader and a teenager making her proud.  Her husband happens to be The One she was absolutely meant for.  That's why to her, everything else is gravy.