Talk to your child more often and spend more time in conversation than you may have in the past. Try to find out how they feel about starting first grade and what they are thinking about it. These conversations will help you discover whether anything is worrying them, giving you the opportunity to ease those concerns. Trust your instincts as a parent, but don’t hesitate to seek advice from professionals in education, child development, or child psychology. Share the story of your own first day of school and show your child a photograph from that time. Even if your memories were not entirely positive, they have probably become warmer with time, allowing you to tell the story in a reassuring and encouraging way.
Visit the school you have chosen together with your child. Help them become as familiar as possible with the school building, playground, and surroundings before September 1st. If possible, arrange for them to meet their future primary school teacher.
Create a new daily routine before the school year begins and stick to it. Children thrive on routine because it gives them a sense of security and helps them know what to expect.
If your child is not already in the habit of eating a healthy and nutritious breakfast, begin establishing that habit before September 1st. Prepare an interesting and appealing breakfast for several mornings in a row, putting in just a little extra effort. Your child will enjoy it, and the habit will quickly become part of their routine. Remember—learning requires energy!
If your child does not have healthy sleep habits or is not used to going to bed early, now is the time to establish that routine. Children of this age need between 10 and 11 hours of sleep each night. Make bedtime more inviting by adding new bedding, choosing a comfortable pillow, or placing a reading lamp beside the bed so that, once they learn to read, they can enjoy books before falling asleep.
If your child spends too much time using a phone, tablet, or computer, begin changing those habits before school starts. A well-organized school will continue to reinforce healthy digital habits. Here’s how you can begin:
- Reduce your own screen time if necessary and set a positive example.
- Establish clear household rules, such as:
- No phones or computers in the bedroom.
- No screens during meals.
- No screen time for at least two hours before bedtime.
- Limit recreational screen time to no more than 45 minutes per day.
- Phones and computers may only be used after responsibilities and daily tasks have been completed.
- Add any additional rules that fit your family’s needs.
- Monitor the content your child is exposed to and make sure it is always age-appropriate.
- Be consistent in enforcing the rules and be prepared to apply reasonable consequences if they are not followed.
- Show your child the educational value of technology through learning apps, educational games, virtual museum tours, and similar activities.
- Encourage and engage them in a variety of other activities that reduce the need for screen time.
Remind your child several times a day to drink water, wash their hands, and use the restroom regularly. A school day is long, and these habits are essential.
Create an environment that makes both the morning and afternoon routines easy to manage. Your child should have a dedicated place for studying and doing homework, such as a desk or a quiet corner of their room. School clothes, backpacks, sports equipment, school supplies, textbooks, toys, and other belongings should all have their own designated place. Encourage your child to take responsibility for keeping their own things organized. An organized environment helps create an organized mind.
Place a planner, notice board, or family calendar somewhere your child can easily see it. At first, you will record upcoming activities and responsibilities together, and later your child can begin doing it independently. At this age, many of these activities will still require your involvement, but having a visual planner will make it easier for the whole family to stay organized.
Allow your child to choose their own backpack, school supplies, clothes, and other items needed before the school year begins. Your future first-grader will be excited that you trust their choices.
During the summer, set aside regular time to “play school.” During these sessions, help your child practice:
- Tying shoelaces, fastening zippers, buttoning and unbuttoning clothes, packing a pencil case and backpack, and other everyday practical skills.
- Staying focused on a task for more than 20 minutes. This might involve drawing, coloring, or age-appropriate activities that develop mathematical and language skills. Many suitable activities can be found online or in educational workbooks designed for children aged 6–7.
- Playing educational and board games together as often as possible, such as LEGO®, building blocks, puzzles, chess, dominoes, or Ludo.
- Introducing themselves confidently by saying their name, age, home address, and the phone number of at least one parent.
- Enjoying listening to stories read aloud and then trying to retell the story, comment on it, or ask questions about it.
Finally, complete your child’s preparation for first grade with an unforgettable summer holiday!