6 ways to get your kids ready for school

Are your kids going to school within the next year or two? You might be wondering if there are ways that you can help them prepare. If so, here are 6 ways to get your kids ready for school. These tips and tricks will help them feel confident going into school on their first day!

Read to them

If you need just one tip to implement when it comes to getting your kids ready for school and helping them learn, this is it. It’s as simple as this: read to them…as much as possible! Read to them at night, but also read to them throughout the day. When you begin reading aloud to your child, it essentially provides them with background knowledge on their young world, which helps them make sense of what they see, hear, and read. In fact, many educators and researchers say that it is the talk that surrounds the reading that gives it power, helping children to bridge what is in the story and their own lives, rather than just the vocalization of the words. Introducing reading into your young child’s life, and the conversations that it will prompt, helps them to make sense of their own lives, especially at a young age. Reading is such a great way to get your kids ready for school…and for life. Plus, hopefully reading to them will help to foster a love for reading starting at an early age. It is so important!

Let them play!

There is so much research behind letting kids play. Kids under 7 truly learn best through play and if you put them in a rigid school system, a lot of the time, they won’t learn as much or do as well. Kids learn by exploring and do-ing, and playing. That is exactly why there are so many play-based and outdoor-based schools on the horizon now. Places like The Garden School in Marietta have tons of research to back this up. There are many other statistics showing that play and outdoor play especially have long-term benefits when it comes to health, both mental and physical too. Outdoor learning has a positive impact on self-esteem, leadership, relationship with peers, motivation to learn, cooperation, conflict resolution, problem solving, and behavior in class, for sure, so let your kids play!

Get them used to other kids

I you have had your kids home with you until now, it’s time to get them socialized. Set them up with other kids through playdates, activities, and programs. Get them involved in sports or arts and crafts. Anything to get them socialized. If they are not used to other kids yet, this could be a big transition (especially when it comes to sharing), so start practicing now!

Look into speech therapy

Going into the classroom for the first time can feel like a big challenge for them. If they are struggling with speech and communicating with people, you could start with speech therapy before they start school. This way, hopefully they would feel a little more confident walking into class on the first day, and communicating with their new teachers and future friends. Talk About Therapy – Speech Therapy is an Atlanta-based speech therapy office that also provides occupational therapy Atlanta, too. Their therapists provide services such as pediatric feeding therapy, feeding therapy for babies, speech therapy for kids and toddlers, pediatric intensive feeding programs; pediatric occupational therapy pre- and post- frenectomy tongue procedure, or frenectomy, tongue tie and lip tie therapy and advisement; and specialized services such as providing feeding therapy for Autism, as well as addressing common breastfeeding problems, all in their clinic or online through the convenience of teletherapy.

Work on basics

Don’t push things too hard, but when possible, work on basics. Numbers, basic addition (counting, adding, etc.), and whatever else they like to do. Basically, follow their lead. If they like to color, start with that. If they like to spell, you know what to focus on. Math? Go for it! They will lead and you can follow + work on the basics with them, to improve their skill set, which will help them when going into school.

Spend quality time with them

Last but not least, spend quality time with them. While this does not really account for them “getting ready for school,” you will need this time for your big mama heart. Spend all the time with them that you can get!