Do you have a preschooler about to start school? If you’ve been asking yourself “what should my child know before starting school?”, you’re not alone — it’s one of the most common worries parents have in the run-up to that first day.
The good news is that your child doesn’t need to be reading fluently or doing sums before they start. What matters far more is a handful of practical, everyday skills that help them settle in, feel confident, and cope with a busy classroom. Here are the 10 skills worth focusing on in the weeks before school starts.
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What Should My Child Know Before Starting School
#1. Simple Motor Skills
Your child may already be practising these at nursery or preschool, but it’s worth reinforcing them at home too. Activities that build fine motor skills include:
- Cutting with scissors
- Baking together and measuring out ingredients
- Gluing and craft projects
- Threading beads
- Building with LEGO or similar blocks
These everyday activities strengthen the hand control your child will use for writing, drawing and other classroom tasks.
#2. Being Able to Sit Still and Pay Attention
Sitting still and listening for stretches of time is a big adjustment for many children. A gentle way to build this habit is through shared reading. As you read together, talk about the story and the characters, and encourage your child to point things out in the pictures.
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#3. Being Independent
This means being able to manage small everyday tasks on their own. If there’s something your child finds tricky, practise it together before school starts. For example, sit down together at lunchtime and let them practise opening and eating from their own lunchbox.
#4. Going to the Toilet Independently
If your child has relied on help in the bathroom, now is a good time to build their confidence with wiping themselves and washing their hands properly afterwards.
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#5. Putting On and Taking Off a Coat or Jacket
Can your child put their own coat on and do up the zip or buttons? If this is a skill they’re still working on, they might enjoy learning the “jacket flip” trick, shown in this short video:
It’s a fun, quick way to help them master coats on their own.
#6. Being Able to Take Turns
Taking turns comes up constantly in a classroom, so it’s worth practising at home too. A timer on your phone can help signal when it’s someone else’s turn or when it’s time to hand over a toy. Simple board games are another great way to build this skill naturally.
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#7. Being Comfortable with Sharing
Use playdates to observe and gently reinforce sharing. Ask your child if they’d mind sharing a toy with a friend. If they say no, talk through why sharing matters. If they say yes, praise them for being kind and considerate — positive reinforcement goes a long way here.
#8. Recognising Their Own Name
Even before your child can read, it helps if they can recognise their own name on their lunchbox, coat, or other belongings. Practise looking at their name together so the letters start to feel familiar.
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#9. Opening Their Lunchbox and Drink Bottle
This is an easy one to practise in the weeks before school starts. Can your child open their own lunchbox and drink bottle without help? A few practice runs at home can save a lot of frustration at lunchtime.
#10. Telling a Teacher When They Need Something
Talk to your child about feeling confident enough to tell a teacher when they need something — whether that’s using the bathroom or not understanding part of a lesson. If your child is on the shy side, practise putting their hand up together at home so it feels familiar when they need to do it at school.
Every child settles in at their own pace, and it’s completely normal for some of these skills to still be a work in progress on day one. Practising little and often in the weeks beforehand can make a real difference to how confident your child feels walking through the school gates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need to know how to read or write before starting school?
No. Schools expect to teach reading and writing from scratch. It’s far more useful for your child to arrive with practical independence skills — like managing their coat, lunchbox and toilet trips — than early academic skills.
How can I help my child if they’re anxious about starting school?
Talk openly about what to expect, read books together about starting school, and practise the daily routines (like getting dressed or opening a lunchbox) so the unfamiliar parts of the day feel smaller. Keeping the tone calm and positive helps too.
What if my child isn’t fully toilet independent yet?
Keep practising in the weeks before school — focus on wiping and handwashing specifically, since these are the parts children are expected to manage themselves. It’s worth mentioning any ongoing concerns to your child’s teacher before term starts.
How do I know if my child is “ready” for school?
There’s no single checklist that guarantees readiness. Focus on the practical skills above — independence, turn-taking, communication — rather than academic milestones, and talk to your child’s preschool or school if you have specific concerns.
Related Articles
- 20 Practical Tips from Parents For Your Child Starting School
- 9 Essentials for When Your Child is Starting School
- When Your Child is Anxious About Starting School
- 13 Things They Don’t Warn You About When Your Child is Starting School
- Dear Parent, From Teacher — A Poem for Starting School
Before You Go
Starting school is a big step for both children and parents — take it one small skill at a time, and remember that teachers are used to helping children settle in at their own pace.
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