Grace is going to kindy this year, so that is like a preparation for Prep at the 'big school' next year. The main thing that I have noticed with DS going to kindy and prep and now DD, is that first of all, they like to teach the routine. So for the first couple of weeks or so it is all about teaching the kids about toilet breaks, washing hands, getting a drink, what to do at lunch time, how to sit and listen, share with your friends, and what is the correct sort of behaviour. They have a simple rule in kindy and prep - "kind words and gentle hands". Reading books together and being able to count, recognise some numbers and letters, scribble on paper, cut with scissors and make creations with glue and sticky tape etc is great and fun to do so encourage it, and you are probably already doing all that stuff with her now. Don't worry too much about academic stuff and Lily 'knowing' things. She does not need to know how to write proper letters and words, and if she can draw stick figures and things that is great. At kindy they encourage 'kid writing', which is basically scribble, but it is an important step in the process to learning how to write. And if they attach meaning to the scribble, all the better - eg Grace scribbles on a piece of paper and tells me that she has written her name. As far as maths goes, if she can count to 20 and recognise some numbers, she is probably already doing better than some of the kids she will be going to school with. Remember that the teachers will pretty much start from scratch with the kids - they know its their first year and don't assume any prior knowledge. What I have noticed is that the first year of school seems to be more about accustoming the kids to the routine and learning social skills, rather than pure academic learning, although that does happen. And start talking about school with her now - how she will have a teacher who will look after her when you are not there, and how there will be lots of new friends to play with and how she will have lots of fun playing and doing activities. Drive past the school to show her if you can, and take her along to any orientation meetings the school might have. Also, start encouraging a little independence with things like dressing herself and going to the toilet. The teachers will always help though. Grace is very good at going to the toilet at kindy and putting her knickers and shorts back on afterwards, but at home she still comes to me to put her pants back on! So we are working on that...
Sounds like she is pretty much ready to go then! She goes to the toilet without even asking anymore and can dress herself and put shoes on etc. She knows all about how school is done. Like she knows she has a lunch box and bag and writing books and has a teacher and is in a class full of kids her age etc. She has rattled on about it everyday for the past 6 months. The only reason they wouldnt let her in this year was simply because of her age!
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You won't know yourself with only 2 kids at home during the day lol...
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