Parenting

Is Your Child Ready For Primary 1?

Moving from preschool to primary school is one of the biggest transitions children in Singapore go through.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

Trending in

live

Moving from preschool to primary school is one of the biggest transitions children in Singapore go through. Despite not having exams in Primary 1 and 2, kids still have to adapt to the rigours of formal schooling. How well your little one adjusts depends on his social, emotional and self-help skills. Here are some helpful tips to prepare him:

Encourage independence

Empowering him to do things like getting up and dressing himself for school sends a powerful message that he can take responsibility for his own needs. He will gain confidence in his ability to try new things.

At Brighton Montessori Preschool, children take pride in simple tasks like tidying up and helping to clean tables after meals.

Instil a sense of order

According to the Montessori approach, children have a natural inclination for organisation and orderliness. Routines guide their actions and help them learn positive, responsible behaviour. So, set up a daily routine for your kid that is achievable and balanced.

Let kids be kids

Avoid overscheduling him with classes and activities. Children need at least 30 minutes of unstructured time daily – without screens.

It’s no surprise then that outdoor play is part of daily life at Brighton. In fact, the natural environment becomes an extension of its Montessori classroom. This lowers their stress levels, and allows them to play more.

Children have a great capacity for handling change, so support them with these tips and they will have a smooth transition into the primary school years.

EXPERT TIP

“According to the Montessori approach, children have a natural inclination for organisation and orderliness. They thrive on a definite schedule... Routines guide a child’s actions toward a specific goal. Most important of all, he will learn positive, responsible behaviour.”

– NURUL MAJID FITTON, PRINCIPAL OF BRIGHTON MONTESSORI @ FRANKEL
 
My Reading Room

IMPORTANT SKILLS YOUR CHILD MUST LEARN

Preparing for Primary 1 goes beyond prepping for academic skills. How many of these nonacademic life skills is your child capable of doing? Check against this useful list, and guide him towards them.

Social & emotional skills

My child greets with words such as “good morning” and makes eye contact.
My child uses “yes”, “please” or “thank you” when something is offered.
My child gives compliments appropriately and receives them graciously.
My child apologises with sincerity and makes amends when possible.

My child is able to use words instead of actions and has developed the vocabulary to express feelings.

Respect, responsibility & independence skills My child is able to focus on the task at hand.

My child can discover his own mistakes rather than needing them to be pointed out.
My child takes responsibility for his own learning and knows that the process of doing it will make him intellectually prepared, and feel good about himself.
My child is able to choose what he wants to do and when, within a prepared environment.
My child constructs his own learning and learns directly from what he does.

My child is free to make choices, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and have the opportunity to self-correct.

Organisational skills

My child is able to manage his time.
My child can achieve a task he sets out to do and not feel overwhelmed.
 
My Reading Room
Click here to subscribe to Young Parents!
More: primary school children skills responsibility montessori natural guide actions learn daily child mistakes

You may be interested in

WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN: