Summer Activities to Prepare Your Child for Primary School

If your child is starting primary school in the coming weeks, you may be wondering how you, as a busy working parent, can best support them over the summer to ensure they are well-prepared. Whether your child attended preschool or not, their readiness for primary school will depend on various factors, including their developmental milestones, social skills, and familiarity with basic academic concepts. With only a few weeks left before they make the leap to big school, here are some effective ways to help your child gain confidence and communication skills to be better prepared for this new adventure. 

Establish a daily routine

A consistent routine for children is important for many reasons. It not only creates a sense of security but also sets them up for success when they need to follow a structured schedule in school. If your child attended preschool, they might already be familiar with having a routine. But, if they haven't, there are effective ways to build a routine over the summer to ease their transition into primary school. Here’s an example:

• Eat breakfast: Start the day with a nutritious breakfast to fuel your child's energy and concentration.
• Get dressed for the day: Encourage your child to get dressed independently, creating a sense of responsibility and readiness for the day ahead.
• Parent/carer goes to work: Establish a clear understanding of when parents or carers are working, helping your child adapt to the idea of separation during school hours.
• Activity with parent/carer: Dedicate time for a fun and educational activity with your child, such as some of the examples below.
• Playtime: Allow for unstructured playtime where your child can explore, imagine, and develop social skills.
• Dinner time: Share a family meal together, where you encourage sharing and serving each other.
• Bedtime routine: Create a calming bedtime routine that includes activities like bathing, brushing teeth, and reading a bedtime story to ensure a good night's sleep.

Build on social skills

An essential aspect of preparing your child for school is helping them develop strong communication skills. These are crucial for their success in the classroom and beyond. One effective way to enhance your child's communication abilities is by arranging playdates over the summer. These social interactions provide valuable opportunities for your child to engage with other children, practise taking turns, and learn the importance of sharing. 

By interacting with other children, they learn to navigate social situations, resolve conflicts, and communicate effectively.

In addition to playdates, you may also want to attend activities such as story time sessions at the local library or stay and play sessions. These activities offer further opportunities for your child to practise listening, speaking, and working with others in a structured setting. 

Spotting numbers 

While school readiness is much more than just academics, understanding numeracy and literacy is incredibly beneficial. These core skills form the basis of what your child will be building upon in the classroom. One effective and convenient way to introduce these concepts is through everyday activities, such as spotting numbers during your daily walks, counting objects you stumble across, or even teaching measurements while cooking This is particularly advantageous for busy parents, as it integrates learning into your existing routine without requiring additional time or effort. 

During your walks, you can make learning fun and interactive by looking for numbers on road signs, counting the number of ducks in a pond, or even identifying house numbers. These simple activities not only help your child become familiar with numbers but also enhance their observational skills and ability to recognise patterns. Additionally, you can expand this to include identifying letters, colours, and shapes, making each walk a learning experience. 

Introducing scientific concepts with a magnetic scavenger hunt 

Introducing scientific concepts to your child before they start school can be both fun and educational. One simple and engaging way to do this is through magnet activities, which can easily be incorporated into your daily routine as an after-work activity. Whether you choose to do this at home or while out on a sunny walk, it doesn't require much time and can be a fun learning experience for your child. 

Start by demonstrating how a magnet works, explaining that magnets are attracted to certain materials. Show your child how the magnet sticks to some objects but not others and highlight the difference between magnetic and non-magnetic materials.

Next, turn it into a game by going on a hunt to find items that can be tested with the magnet. Gather a variety of objects and encourage your child to predict which items will be attracted to the magnet and which will not.

That’s not all - teaching preschoolers science can be as simple as exploring everyday moments that reveal how the world works. Watching bread rise shows them how yeast makes bubbles, turning a lump of dough into something fluffy and delicious. Observing ice melt into water teaches them about temperature and change. Planting seeds and watching them sprout shows the magic of growth and life cycles. Even blowing bubbles or playing with shadows helps them understand air and light. These hands-on, real-world experiences make science fun, relatable, and easy to grasp for young minds. 

Always ensure you supervise your child when playing with small, loose parts such as magnets to ensure their safety.

Literacy games 

Improving your child's understanding of specific sounds can be both enjoyable and educational by incorporating games like "I Spy." This classic game encourages your child to think about objects that start with a particular sound, such as "I spy with my little eye something beginning with 'A'."

"I Spy" is an excellent game to play in various settings, including during long car journeys, if you happen to be travelling over the summer. It keeps your child entertained while reinforcing their ability to recognise and articulate different sounds. This game can be adapted to focus on different letters and sounds, making it a versatile tool for enhancing your child's phonetic skills.