Putting on and taking off shoes

Velcro shoes are best as they help the children to be independent. Laces are not recommended.

Going to the toilet independently

This included wiping themselves, flushing the toilet and washing their hands. 

Putting on their coat and doing it up.

Practise the technique of putting their coat on themselves.  A useful tip is to put the hood on their head first and then they find it easier to find the arms.  Support your child to learn to click in the zip at the bottom before attempting to pull it up.

Drinking from a water bottle and cup

If your child isn’t use to drinking from these items, please practise with them, so they have confidence with these skills so they can use them when at school.

Dressing themselves

This will help your child take their own jumper off or pull up their trousers or tights, when toileting.

Colouring and drawing

These skills will support your child to develop the fine motor skills in preparation for writing.

Talking with your child

It is important to listen and respond to your child talking. Encourage them to communicate their wants and needs.  Model and support them to talk in phrases and sentences.

Sharing Books

Reading to your child every day gives them the best start to life.  Reading books or telling stories is a time when you can be together. Children learn so much from sharing books with adults.

Singing Nursery Rhymes

It is important that children learn and know a range of nursery rhymes.  ‘YouTube’ and ‘Cbeebies’ are good resources to use to help them learn these songs.  Can could learn nursery rhymes such as Twinkle Twinkle Little star, Incey Wincey Spider, Baa Baa black sheep and Wind your bobbin up.

Research has shown that if children know 8 nursery rhymes by heart by the time they are 4 they are usually amongst the best readers and spellers of a class by the time they are 8!