Supporting Your Child

Your child needs to recognise their own belongings and know where to look for their name to check if it is theirs. Ask your child to practise putting away their belongings at home. Children need to zip and unzip their own school bag. It is good to practise using the zipper on their school bag before they start school.

Students will need to carry their own bag. Children should practise putting arms through the backpack straps and walking with their bag on.

Taking Jumpers and Jackets On and Off

Children need to be able to put on and take off their own jumpers and jackets. You can help with this by teaching them to zip and unzip their clothing when getting dressed and practising with their school jumpers and jackets before school starts.

If your child can not yet tie their own laces, we recommend purchasing shoes with velcro straps.

A snap lock bag with spare underwear and a change of clothes is helpful to have in the school bag at all times.

It is helpful if students are able to read their name prior to starting school. Your child can practise recognising and writing their name by creating a name tracing template.

Children will need to be able to eat independently. Ensure that they can open the packets of food and have the neccessary utensils.

Select containers and drink bottles for your child that they can open and close themselves. A great activity to prepare your child for eating at school is to pack them a lunch in their school lunch box and drink bottle and eat from this at home.

Children will go to the toilet without assistance and will need to be able to lock and unlock toilet doors.

Practise washing hands with your child. Your child needs to be able to turn taps on and off, use soap to wash hands effectively and dry their hands with paper towel.

Teach your child to use a tissue or handkerchief to blow their nose independently and to place the tissue in the bin or handkerchief back in their pocket.

At school, your child will learn about road safety as part of Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. You may like to explore the Safety Town website which has helpful information for parents as well as a section for children where they can learn pedestrian safety messages through fun activities.