Pre-primary school, also known as Grade R, refers to the year of schooling just before Grade 1.

The purpose of pre-primary school is to start the development of emotional, social and learning skills in the early stages of childhood.

This early childhood development builds a sturdy foundation for further education and skills development throughout a child’s schooling career and even into adulthood.

Preparing your child for pre-primary school

There are certain ways that you can prepare your little one for the start of Grade R. This is essentially your child’s first introduction into a schooling environment.

Making sure your child is prepared for the change of routine will ensure a smooth transition into this new phase. You want your little one to feel confident and safe as they start their new journey.

Here are 4 tips which can help you prepare your child for Grade R:

Diet, nap time and clothing

When your child is in a classroom environment, it means that there is much less freedom when it comes to when they nap, what they eat and what clothes they wear. The school you have chosen may require them to wear shoes for most of the day and may have a list of foods or snacks which are not allowed. Find out these details beforehand, including nap times and start implementing these changes in your daily routine. These gradual changes will make it easier for your child to adapt when they start pre-primary school.

Stuffed toy and blankie

Most children have their favourite blankie, doll or stuffed toy which they carry around wherever they go. These things usually give your little one comfort. However, most schools don’t allow personal toys to be brought to school unless it’s for show and tell. Therefore, it’s time to start encouraging your child to leave these things at home when you go on outings. Waiting until the day before school, to tell them to leave their toy or blankie behind will cause unnecessary trauma. Be gentle and patient in your approach and this will be an easy process.

Encourage expressive action

Children are experts at absorbing information and encouraging them to share with you everything they are learning on a daily basis will help firmly instil what they have learned. When you take your child on an outing, ask them to observe their surroundings and explain to you what they see or perceive. When you get home, ask them to tell you about their experience and which part they enjoyed the most. This teaches your child to be more attentive while fostering a healthy appetite for learning.

Make sure your child is school ready

Although your child doesn’t have to be performing on an academic level when going to pre-primary school, it’s important that they have basic skills before going to Grade R. These skills include holding a pen or pencil properly, cutting safely with scissors and other basic motor neuron skills. This will help them feel confident when taking part in activities at school.

There are many pre-primary schools in Cape Town to choose from, however, Key-Dee Educare Centre aims to be one of the best by focusing on all stages of early childhood development.

Kay-Dee Educare Centre – Pre-primary schools Southern Suburbs

We are a pre-primary school in Cape Town which offers specialised attention to preparing your child for their schooling career. To find out more, contact us.