5 Ways to Prepare a Child for School

1. Physical Preparation Is Essential

Before sending your child to school for the first time, it's important to get him physically ready to meet the challenges ahead of him. A nutritious diet and frequent exercise in early childhood reduces the risk of health problems and lays the foundation for learning in school. Children who eat balanced meals demonstrate better concentration in the classroom. Healthy eating habits that include fruits and vegetables when your child is two or three years old will be easier to maintain when he reaches school age.

Regular exercise encourages fitness and coordination. As a child's body develops, activities such as jumping, throwing, catching, climbing, tumbling and dancing teach large muscle control. Likewise, dexterity and fine motor skills are acquired though activities like coloring, assembling puzzles, working with clay and learning to cut with safety scissors. Practice these skills at home with preschool-aged children frequently.

2. Nurture Social and Emotional Skills

Social skills, such as cooperation, sharing, conflict resolution and empathy, help children to get along with classmates. Give your child chances to interact with other children through play dates, classes or trips to the park. Encourage your child to solve conflicts independently and to see the perspectives of others. Emotional skills like confidence, independence, self-control, persistence and motivation are also important for success in school. Give your child the opportunity to make her own choices to build confidence and independence. Use positive reinforcement to encourage persistence and self-control, and motivate your child with incentives for good behavior rather than just threatening punishment for bad behavior.

3. Language Development and Comprehension Skills Begin at Home

Good language and comprehension skills are developed from birth. There are many ways to engage your child, but talking directly to him can help him learn to speak. Early on, narrating what's going on around a baby also is helpful. As a child gets older, parents should ask questions that require more than a "yes" or "no" answer. Reading aloud regularly can improve language skills, and discussing what has been read aids comprehension. Before your child is scheduled to begin school, get a list of the skills the school expects her to have mastered beforehand. Work on these skills at home when your child is one or two years old.

4. Establish a Daily Routine

Shifting from an unstructured home environment to a school environment can be jarring, particularly for children who did not attend preschool before kindergarten. Creating and sticking to a daily routine at home can help you both transition more smoothly. Establish a set time to wake up, get dressed and eat breakfast. Map out daily activities, such as art time, play time, nap time, lunch time and reading time. Getting used to a home schedule will prepare your child for the more regimented school routine.

5. Tour the School With Your Child

Visiting the kindergarten with your child before the first day may relieve the anxiety she feels about entering the new environment. Throughout the visit, stay positive about the school experience and all the exciting things she will get to do. Arrange to meet the teacher. Explain to your child what a teacher does and that the teacher should be treated with respect. The more information your child has about what to expect, the better she'll handle the change.