Preparing for School?

A Wiggly guide from Young Academics getting your children ready for big school adventures!

Starting school is an exciting step in your child’s life - it’s their first big adventure outside the nest. But getting ready for school isn’t just about learning the ABCs and 123s. Oh no, there’s a whole lot more to it!

From making friends to learning self-help skills, your child needs a mix of social, emotional, self-help, and cognitive skills to feel ready and feel confident for the classroom. The Wiggles alongside our friends at Young Academics are here to help with some wiggly tips and tricks to make school readiness fun for both you and your little learner.

The Big Skills to Wiggle Into Before School Starts!

1. Social and Emotional Skills

Starting school means new friends, new teachers, and new routines - it’s a big change! Helping your child understand emotions and how to interact with others is key to a smooth transition.

• Skills to Encourage: Sharing, turn-taking, empathy, and expressing feelings constructively. 

• Young Academics Parenting Tip: Arrange playdates or group activities where your child can practice social interactions. Encourage them to use words to express their needs, and model positive conflict-resolution skills. 

2. Self-Help Skills 

Independence is key to school readiness. Being able to manage personal needs, such as dressing, eating, and using the bathroom, helps children feel confident and reduces anxiety in a school setting. 

• Skills to Encourage: Putting on shoes, managing lunch containers, using the toilet independently, and washing hands. 

• Young Academics Parenting Tip: Practice these routines at home and encourage your child to try things on their own before offering help. Introduce items like easy-to-open lunch boxes, and practice packing and unpacking a school bag together. 

3. Cognitive Skills

Cognitive skills refer to a child’s ability to think, reason, and learn. This includes skills like counting, recognising letters and numbers, and problem-solving. Developing cognitive skills helps children engage in classroom activities, follow instructions, and build early literacy and math skills. 

• Skills to Encourage: Sorting and counting, recognising their name, following instructions, and solving simple puzzles.

• Young Academics Parenting Tip: Wiggle and1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Reading together is another wiggly way to learn letters and words!

4. Language and Communication Skills 

Strong communication skills allow children to express themselves, understand instructions, and interact effectively with teachers and classmates. Expanding vocabulary and improving listening skills support classroom learning and fosters positive social interactions. 

• Skills to Encourage: Asking questions, describing objects or events, understanding and following simple instructions, and sharing stories. 

• Young Academics Parenting Tip: Ask open-ended questions to encourage conversation, listen actively to your child, and introduce new vocabulary through books, storytelling, and everyday interactions. 

5. Physical Development

Be like Big Strong John by being active and using those big and little muscles which help children with everything from playground fun to holding pencils and scissors in the classroom.

• Skills to Encourage: Balancing, hopping, holding a pencil, using scissors, and manipulating small objects. 

• Young Academics Parenting Tip: Offer activities that support motor skills, such as drawing, cutting with child-safe scissors, and playing outdoor games that involve running, jumping, or climbing. 

Wiggly Tips to Get Ready for School

Make Routines Fun: Start practicing morning and bedtime routines a few weeks before school starts. Add a Wiggly song to make getting dressed or brushing teeth more fun!

Talk About School: Visit the school together, explore the playground, and talk about exciting things like meeting teachers, sitting at desks, and storytime.

Play Problem-Solving Games: Encourage your child to solve little problems on their own, like finding a toy or choosing their clothes for the day.

Focus and Play: Try games like Red Wiggle “Simon Says” or “I Spy” to help build focus and listening skills. Bonus points if you play along to a Wiggly tune!

Read Together Every Day: Snuggle up and read stories to spark imagination and build vocabulary. Ask questions like, “What do you think happens next?”

Download Your Free School Readiness Guide

Want even more Wiggly tips and activities to help your little one get ready for school?

Download Your Free School Readiness Guide from Young Academics - it’s packed with fun ideas, skill guides, and simple activities to help your child feel confident and excited for their big adventure.

Let’s get ready to wiggle with Young Academics ... all the way to school!