Your child starting school is a bittersweet moment for many parents. On the one hand, you’re excited for them to start their educational journey and learn as much about the world as possible.

But, you also don’t want to say goodbye to them for eight (or more) hours every day. You also worry that they might not enjoy their timer at school, and the thought of this is often more difficult to face than anything else. But, parents can ensure their child enjoys school by teaching them some essential skills. 

Riding a Bike 

Learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage for many kids. By the time they’re ready to start school, they should be familiar and comfortable with riding a bike. 

This skill gives them a way to be active and helps them socialize with the friends they’ll meet in class. Instead of balancing on the back of someone else’s bike or being left behind, they can explore the neighborhood with their new friends while also gaining other crucial skills that come from riding a bike, such as road awareness, balance, and more.

Swimming Confidently 

Swimming is another skill that will be beneficial, especially if the school has swimming as part of the curriculum. By age four, most kids should be ready to swim, so getting them swim lessons as soon as they’re capable will ensure they can jump in with confidence and won’t need floatation devices to ensure they’re safe.

Of course, some kids will always be stronger swimmers than others, but having the basics down and being able to swim in a safe environment can help them excel in this activity at school and improve their confidence for social swimming. 

Reading and Writing 

Your children don’t need to be too advanced when they arrive at school, but knowing how to read and write basic words or phrases ensures they can manage the first few weeks and months of school without any problems. 

If you want to be more involved in your child’s education, you can find out the types of words or books they will read during the year and help your child become comfortable with them. This will help them when it comes to recognizing words in class even without you to help them. 

Sharing and Making Friends  

Making friends is a huge part of the first few years at school and many parents would prefer that their child has friends as opposed to being an excellent student. 

Hopefully, your child will already know some kids from playschool or nursery, but you can also support them and encourage them to make new friends. They will meet plenty of other kids in their first few years at school, so help them to be comfortable meeting new people so they can be friendly with as many kids as possible. 

Ready 

You’ll never be truly ready to send your child off to school. As long as you make sure they have these skills, you can feel confident that they will have the best time. They will have fun with their friends and learn at the same time, ensuring a positive attitude towards education that will follow them through life.