10 important personal skills to teach your child in preparation for school are:

1. How to dress him/herself. This will include how to put on and take off jumpers, hats, raincoats and painting smocks.

2. How to put on and take off shoes and socks. Velcro fastenings are always useful until your child can do up laces.

3. How to go to the toilet independently. This will include flushing the toilet as well as washing and drying hands. It is also a good idea to explain to them why it is not a good idea to play in the toilets. This is often a tempting place to play when there are a lot of friends around and it is out of the teacher's view.

4. How to blow their nose correctly and not sniff or wipe their hand on their sleeve!

5. How to choose between recess and lunch food. In the beginning it is always a good idea to have these packaged separately and in easily identifiable containers. The child will also need to know how to:

• Open and close their lunch box and undo food wrapping.

• Open and, in particular, securely close their drink bottle. Many bags have gone home a soggy mess when children are unable to screw the lids tightly on their bottles.

• Know which food to select first – sandwiches, then fruit, then goodies (if these are included.)

• Place their rubbish in a bin and not leave it on the seat or throw it on the ground. This skill actually needs to be taught as the children are usually used to mum or dad cleaning up for them after a meal.

• Put their lunch boxes and bottles away. This will usually be in a communal lunch basket or back in their bags. If it is in the class basket, the child will need to recognise their things easily so that they can be put back in their bag after lunch. A coloured sticker and large name can help here.

It is always a good idea to practice the recess and lunch routines for a few weeks before school begins.

6. How to recognise and look after their belongings. It is essential to label EVERYTHING, even lids of bottles and lunch boxes. Always assume that anything that can be lost, probably will be lost at some stage. Large print in permanent texta not only makes it easy for the child but also for the teacher as well. 

7. How to ask for help both in the classroom and in the playground and how to indicate to the teacher if they are not feeling well.  Also learn the correct way to ask permission to go to the toilet and not to wait until it is too late.

8. How to ask for things at the canteen and pay for them. It is a good idea to allow the child to practice this when shopping with mum and dad.  A secure method of storing the money is also needed as it is very upsetting for little children to lose their money when they are looking forward to a treat.

9. How to tidy up after themselves - clothes, belongings, pencils, books, toys and mess from art and craft activities.

10. How to share, take turns and politely ask to join in a game or activity.

This article was written by the Wooden Toy Store Team. Please feel free to use it in it's entirety with the inclusion of the Wooden Toy Store as the author and a link to www.woodentoystore.co.nz