READINESS FOR YOUR CHILD'S FOUNDATION YEAR AT NAR NAR GOON PRIMARY SCHOOL                          

School readiness falls into a range of areas all of which are important in ensuring that your child has a positive start to their schooling.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT:

The physical skills that children need include:

• those that foster independence and self-reliance such as, eating, toileting and dressing
• those that enable them to join in learning at school such as, hand/eye coordination and scissors skills

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:

The social skills that children need include:

• sharing                                                                            
• waiting for their turn                                                          
• being patient
• cooperating with a range of people
• helping others

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

The emotional skills that children need include:

• being able to separate easily from their parent
• maintaining self-control
• taking responsibility for their actions and their belongings
• being able to show resilience when things do not go the way they would like

LITERACY DEVELOPMENT:

The literacy skills that can be beneficial are being able to:                        

• discuss a story that has been read to them
• communicate their ideas and their needs so they can be easily understood
• use their auditory memory to listen to and then follow an instruction
• use the correct pencil grip in preparation for writing

NUMERACY DEVELOPMENT:

The numeracy skills that can be beneficial are being able to:

• complete jigsaw puzzles as these are great for spatial awareness
• use measurement language such as, ‘that Lego tower is taller than that one’
• skip counting rhymes such as "Fish Alive" in preparation for counting.

Most important of all - have lots of conversations with your child through pleasurable experiences to enable them to have a strong command of spoken language. Take them to the park, the beach, a walk in the bush, give them time to dig in the garden or sandpit and discuss what you see, feel, hear, smell, taste and touch. All these experiences and discussions help them to acquire the necessary language skills that will support them in their learning.

HAVE FUN WITH YOUR CHILD AND ALWAYS BE POSITIVE!!
For more information including parent tips for starting school please refer to the Victorian Education Department website using the following link:

Tips for Starting School

Another useful link:
Literacy and Numeracy Tips to Help Your Child