Ready.... Steady....

Parents often ask the question when is the best time for their child to start school? That is really up to the individual parent and of course up to the child.

- Dearbhala Cox-Giffin

Many children today start ‘big school’ between the age of four and six. It all depends on the child and how school ready and confident they are. Although skills such as putting on a coat, jumper or shoes are important they are not essential for a child to do perfectly or at all. There are other tasks that are probably more important to boost your child’s self-esteem such as self-care, going to the bathroom by themselves, and the ability to interact with their peers and make friends which will help them settle into their new routine.

Don’t panic about your child starting school as the first half of junior infants is primarily a settling in period to support the children to adjust and get used to the routine, to be more self-sufficient and to become familiar with the dynamics of the school. All children get there in the end but as parents and carers, there are some easy steps that we can do to promote independence and self-care.