Activities to help you get ready for school!
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Make sure you check out the 'Starting Reception' website for lots of activity ideas, tips and advice for each of the school readiness skills. We've also got a full list of the skills below with some great advice, hints and tips to go with them! We've also included some fantastic resources and links to ideas for activities you can try at home..
You can also join us in completing the Doncaster Ready For Reception Challenge! Find out more HERE
We also recommend a visit to the BBC Bitesze website which has a huge range info support, activities and guidance, with a dedicated parents' toolkit! Visit that website HERE
Find out more about school readiness skills on our main webpage at www.yourlifedoncaster.co.uk/readyforschool
List of School Readiness Skills and Activities for the Little Ones!
Taking Care of Themselves - Putting on/taking off their coat and shoes
This one is super simple and may already be part of your every day.
Encourage your child to put on and take off their own coat and shoes each time you leave home!
This BBC Bitesize article will help your child to tie their own shoe laces: Tying your laces - and other primary school firsts - BBC Bitesize
Encourage your child to put on and take off their own coat and shoes each time you leave home!
This BBC Bitesize article will help your child to tie their own shoe laces: Tying your laces - and other primary school firsts - BBC Bitesize
Taking Care of Themselves - Using the toilet and washing their hands
It's important that children can use the toilet independently and wash their hands afterwards to promote good hygiene, and sometimes this can be a difficult one to master!
Some children find it harder than others to use the toilet independently so it is important to keep trying.
There are lots of resources to help you with toilet training such as the links below:
ERIC charity top tips for toilet training - Toilets-and-school-readiness.pdf
BBC Bitesize on teaching little ones to use the loo! School readiness: Preparing your child for using the toilet on their own - BBC Tiny Happy People
If your child continues to have difficulties, please don't struggle alone! We recommend contacting your health visitor for further advice or support - they're great!
Some children find it harder than others to use the toilet independently so it is important to keep trying.
There are lots of resources to help you with toilet training such as the links below:
ERIC charity top tips for toilet training - Toilets-and-school-readiness.pdf
BBC Bitesize on teaching little ones to use the loo! School readiness: Preparing your child for using the toilet on their own - BBC Tiny Happy People
If your child continues to have difficulties, please don't struggle alone! We recommend contacting your health visitor for further advice or support - they're great!
Taking Care of Themselves - Getting dressed with little help, e.g. after using the toilet or doing PE
When your child is at school, there will be times when they may need to get undressed or dressed on their own or with little support.
This may happen after PE or going to the toilet for example. Try and encourage your child to do this on their own when they are at home or offer less and less support if they need some extra help until they feel confident in doing so!
This may happen after PE or going to the toilet for example. Try and encourage your child to do this on their own when they are at home or offer less and less support if they need some extra help until they feel confident in doing so!
Taking Care of Themselves - Using cutlery (e.g. fork, spoon, chopsticks) and drinking from an open cup
There will be times whilst at school and home when your child will be eating independently.
Try and support your child by teaching them the correct way to hold cutlery such as knives and forks.
Your child should also be able to drink correctly from an open cup, and not one that uses a lid.
Watch the video for further help and tips. Check out this helpful video from the NHS: How to Use a Knife and Fork
Try and support your child by teaching them the correct way to hold cutlery such as knives and forks.
Your child should also be able to drink correctly from an open cup, and not one that uses a lid.
Watch the video for further help and tips. Check out this helpful video from the NHS: How to Use a Knife and Fork
Play, Creativity & Curiosity - Taking part in imaginative play (e.g. role play)
There's lots of opportunities to encourage play and to help children to be creative and curious during play activities.
There are lots of things that you can do at home to help your child which are easy and accessible!
Take part in imaginative play using play figures and let yours and your child's imagination run wild. It's important to get them to talk through what they're doing or playing to help develop those all important language and communication skills.
There's some inspiration for activities here: Language development activities for young children ages 4-5
There are lots of things that you can do at home to help your child which are easy and accessible!
Take part in imaginative play using play figures and let yours and your child's imagination run wild. It's important to get them to talk through what they're doing or playing to help develop those all important language and communication skills.
There's some inspiration for activities here: Language development activities for young children ages 4-5
Play, Creativity & Curiosity - Drawing, painting, colouring and sticking
Drawing together is a great activity to fire up your child's imagination and get them talking and expressing themselves.
Making toys together is a fun way for your child to explore their creativity as well as developing their conversation skills.
You can make toys out of everyday objects such as egg cartons, cereal boxes, bottle tops, cardboard tubes - anything you can find around the house!
Here's another BBC Bitesize activity you can follow: Drawing fun - BBC Tiny Happy People
Making toys together is a fun way for your child to explore their creativity as well as developing their conversation skills.
You can make toys out of everyday objects such as egg cartons, cereal boxes, bottle tops, cardboard tubes - anything you can find around the house!
Here's another BBC Bitesize activity you can follow: Drawing fun - BBC Tiny Happy People
Play, Creativity & Curiosity - Sharing story books, looking at pictures and talking about the characters
Children love it when you add sound effects during story time. Especially animal or monster noises!
Making up stories is a great way to start imaginative conversations with your child. Use props like toys to bring your stories to life, just like the family in the film below.
Here's another helpful BBC Bitesize video around adding sound effects: Storytelling with sounds - BBC Tiny Happy People
Making up stories is a great way to start imaginative conversations with your child. Use props like toys to bring your stories to life, just like the family in the film below.
Here's another helpful BBC Bitesize video around adding sound effects: Storytelling with sounds - BBC Tiny Happy People
Play, Creativity & Curiosity - Exploring the world around them (e.g. looking closely at the natural world, playing safely with objects at home)
From the day they are born, children actively explore the world around them.
They are naturally curious and develop interest in what things are, what they do, how some things occur and why things change. They learn best through hands on experiences, being able to discover things for themselves, but also through having conversations with you about the things they observe. Understanding the world is all about children taking notice of, talking about and finding out about all the things that make up their world.
To help your child understand the world talk about their family by looking through photographs, the natural world by talking to them about what they can hear and see, look at and learn about the different sounds animals make as well different parts of plants. You can go for a walk and point out things that your child can see or shows an interest in.
Here's some fun inspiration about how to build in games on your walks with your little one:Games while walking with toddler: Making up games - BBC Tiny Happy People
They are naturally curious and develop interest in what things are, what they do, how some things occur and why things change. They learn best through hands on experiences, being able to discover things for themselves, but also through having conversations with you about the things they observe. Understanding the world is all about children taking notice of, talking about and finding out about all the things that make up their world.
To help your child understand the world talk about their family by looking through photographs, the natural world by talking to them about what they can hear and see, look at and learn about the different sounds animals make as well different parts of plants. You can go for a walk and point out things that your child can see or shows an interest in.
Here's some fun inspiration about how to build in games on your walks with your little one:Games while walking with toddler: Making up games - BBC Tiny Happy People
Building Relationships and Communicating - Being with others
These next activities are all about how to support children to be around other children.
Today, why don’t you try and practise sharing and taking turns when playing with their toys. From about 2 ½ years old, children can usually take turns or share. But it’s often not until the ages of 3 to 5 they learn not to get frustrated when sharing with others, or if someone else takes something of theirs for a moment.
Today, why don’t you try and practise sharing and taking turns when playing with their toys. From about 2 ½ years old, children can usually take turns or share. But it’s often not until the ages of 3 to 5 they learn not to get frustrated when sharing with others, or if someone else takes something of theirs for a moment.
Building Relationships and Communicating - Talking to them about how they are feeling and why
Expressing feelings is not always easy, especially for young children.
The process of using words to describe how you are feeling and understanding what that means requires a lot of practice. Making a feelings tree together will help your child talk about these different emotions and understand how they're feeling.
Here's a fun BBC Bitesize activity about making feeling trees! How to make a feelings tree with preschoolers - BBC Tiny Happy People
The process of using words to describe how you are feeling and understanding what that means requires a lot of practice. Making a feelings tree together will help your child talk about these different emotions and understand how they're feeling.
Here's a fun BBC Bitesize activity about making feeling trees! How to make a feelings tree with preschoolers - BBC Tiny Happy People
Building Relationships and Communicating - Looking at story books together and speaking about what characters are feeling
Sharing books with babies and young children is a fun way to share talk. Adults and children will both enjoy the experience, which means there is a strong chance it will become a regular activity.
Books introduce children to the exciting world of stories and help them learn to express their own thoughts and emotions. Stories provide parents and carers with a structure to help them talk aloud to children and listen to their responses. It helps overcome adult inhibitions and provides topics for discussion.
Books introduce children to the exciting world of stories and help them learn to express their own thoughts and emotions. Stories provide parents and carers with a structure to help them talk aloud to children and listen to their responses. It helps overcome adult inhibitions and provides topics for discussion.
Building Relationships and Communicating - Beginning to recognise what others are feeling, e.g. understanding if a friend is sad
Everyone has emotions or feelings. Some common emotions are happiness, sadness, anger and excitement. Sometimes, we express our feelings by laughing, crying or shouting. At other times we don’t express them, and they stay inside us.
It is important that your child is able to recognise different types of feelings both about themselves but in other people too!
Here's some inspiration about how to tackle this new skill: Recognising others' feelings - BBC Bitesize
It is important that your child is able to recognise different types of feelings both about themselves but in other people too!
Here's some inspiration about how to tackle this new skill: Recognising others' feelings - BBC Bitesize
Building Relationships and Communicating - Encouraging children to set boundaries for themselves and others (e.g. knowing how to say ‘no’)
Understanding how to set and respect boundaries is a vital skill for children to learn, so they can have healthy social interactions, feel safe, and respect others and themselves.
Boundaries are limits that we set for ourselves within relationships, as to what we feel comfortable with and what we don’t feel comfortable with. Boundaries can be thought of as lines that separate us from others, in terms of our physical space and our emotions and feelings. Teaching children the importance of boundaries and how to set their own healthy boundaries is essential to ensure their safety and happiness in life. Learning about boundaries can be a sensitive and tricky topic, so it’s a great idea to work out how you’re going to approach this important subject beforehand.
Letting children know that it’s okay to say no in certain situations when they don’t feel comfortable will give them the confidence to stand up for themselves. Demonstrating your own healthy boundaries is a brilliant way to teach children, as they learn well by example. Being able to practise setting boundaries with a safe person will allow children to gain confidence in this practice
Boundaries are limits that we set for ourselves within relationships, as to what we feel comfortable with and what we don’t feel comfortable with. Boundaries can be thought of as lines that separate us from others, in terms of our physical space and our emotions and feelings. Teaching children the importance of boundaries and how to set their own healthy boundaries is essential to ensure their safety and happiness in life. Learning about boundaries can be a sensitive and tricky topic, so it’s a great idea to work out how you’re going to approach this important subject beforehand.
Letting children know that it’s okay to say no in certain situations when they don’t feel comfortable will give them the confidence to stand up for themselves. Demonstrating your own healthy boundaries is a brilliant way to teach children, as they learn well by example. Being able to practise setting boundaries with a safe person will allow children to gain confidence in this practice
Building Relationships and Communicating - Talking happily to others about activities, experiences and the world around them
When you're out and about, use those moments to talk with your child!
Point out things you see, ask them questions, and chat about what's around you. This helps them learn new words and communicate better. Chatting with them and talking about what they're doing can really help them to learn new words and how to have conversations. Chat about your day together and help your child learn by sharing your day too!
Here's a BBC Bitesize video on getting children to come up with stories! Getting children to tell stories - BBC Tiny Happy People
Point out things you see, ask them questions, and chat about what's around you. This helps them learn new words and communicate better. Chatting with them and talking about what they're doing can really help them to learn new words and how to have conversations. Chat about your day together and help your child learn by sharing your day too!
Here's a BBC Bitesize video on getting children to come up with stories! Getting children to tell stories - BBC Tiny Happy People
Building Relationships and Communicating - Recognising the pattern of their name (so they can find it on their coat peg or jacket)
It can be helpful for your child to learn to recognise their name before starting reception as they may need it to find their peg or tray.
For young children, learning takes place through play and imitation. If you can set up playful learning opportunities for your child to enjoy, they will be much more likely to learn what you would like them to, such as recognising their name. Write your child’s name on multiple Post-it notes. Place the Post-it notes around the house (at their table, on their bedroom door, at the front door, on their toys).
Tell your child that you’re going to go on a Name Hunt to find all the pieces of paper that have their name written on them.
Here's some more guidance around your children learning to recognise and write their name.. When should my child be able to write their name? | Words for Life
For young children, learning takes place through play and imitation. If you can set up playful learning opportunities for your child to enjoy, they will be much more likely to learn what you would like them to, such as recognising their name. Write your child’s name on multiple Post-it notes. Place the Post-it notes around the house (at their table, on their bedroom door, at the front door, on their toys).
Tell your child that you’re going to go on a Name Hunt to find all the pieces of paper that have their name written on them.
Here's some more guidance around your children learning to recognise and write their name.. When should my child be able to write their name? | Words for Life
Building Relationships and Communicating - Listening to and following simple instructions
Instructions help us to get things done by taking small steps in the right order.
In school, children will hear instructions given by their teacher on how to play a game in PE. When children play with their friends, they may give you instructions to help you join in with their game. Children will also hear instructions when they are not in school.
When you are at home, you might give instructions about how your child could tidy their bedroom, how to set the table or where to put your toys.
Here's some handy advice on getting little ones to follow instructions - Listen to and follow instructions (KS1 Language and Literacy - Writing) - BBC Bitesize
In school, children will hear instructions given by their teacher on how to play a game in PE. When children play with their friends, they may give you instructions to help you join in with their game. Children will also hear instructions when they are not in school.
When you are at home, you might give instructions about how your child could tidy their bedroom, how to set the table or where to put your toys.
Here's some handy advice on getting little ones to follow instructions - Listen to and follow instructions (KS1 Language and Literacy - Writing) - BBC Bitesize
Physical Development: Climbing, running, jumping and playing
Activities you could try for this theme include climbing, skipping, active play, like hide and seek, throwing and catching, scooting, riding a bike and outdoor activities!
Find some inspiration with BBC Bitesize here: Throwing games for kids' hand-eye coordination - Bean bag or sock throwing game - BBC Tiny Happy People
Find some inspiration with BBC Bitesize here: Throwing games for kids' hand-eye coordination - Bean bag or sock throwing game - BBC Tiny Happy People
Physical Development: Walking up and down steps (one foot at a time, using the wall for support)
Children need to develop the skills of catching!
Why don’t you try and play catch with a large ball and see how many times your child can catch the ball without dropping it.
Try this out for more help.. Ball games for preschoolers: How can they boost language? - BBC Tiny Happy People
Why don’t you try and play catch with a large ball and see how many times your child can catch the ball without dropping it.
Try this out for more help.. Ball games for preschoolers: How can they boost language? - BBC Tiny Happy People
Physical Development: Doing simple puzzles and craft activities, strengthening their grip with cutting and sticking
Helping your child to do simple puzzles and craft activities, such as cutting and sticking, offers lots of benefits to help to prepare them for reception. Children build essential skills that will support their transition to reception and beyond.
There are lots of different activities that you can try with your child including playing with playdough, finger painting, cutting and matching shapes, and cutting out shapes to make animals.
Here's two great BBC Bitesize activities to try out:
Making a Puzzle
Making Toys from Recycling
There are lots of different activities that you can try with your child including playing with playdough, finger painting, cutting and matching shapes, and cutting out shapes to make animals.
Here's two great BBC Bitesize activities to try out:
Making a Puzzle
Making Toys from Recycling
Healthy Routines: Bedtime
Set a calming bedtime schedule (bath, story time, lights out at the same time).
It is really important that children are able to going to bed around the same time each night, waking up in time to get ready for school.
It is recommended that children aged 3-4 years have 10–13 hours of good quality sleep, which may include a nap, with regular sleep and wake-up times.
Here's a helpful BBC Bitesize video with a Specialist on sleep issues - A specialist gives her tips for sleep issues - BBC Tiny Happy People
We also want to share some handy advice on sleep from the NHS - Sleep and young children - NHS
It is really important that children are able to going to bed around the same time each night, waking up in time to get ready for school.
It is recommended that children aged 3-4 years have 10–13 hours of good quality sleep, which may include a nap, with regular sleep and wake-up times.
Here's a helpful BBC Bitesize video with a Specialist on sleep issues - A specialist gives her tips for sleep issues - BBC Tiny Happy People
We also want to share some handy advice on sleep from the NHS - Sleep and young children - NHS
Healthy Routines: Screentime
Many parents and caregivers use smart phones or tablets for babies or young children or you may find watching TV together is something fun or relaxing to do when they’re tired
Limiting screen time to the recommended daily amounts is really important. It is recommended that children aged 3-4 years should not be restrained for more than 1 hour at a time (e.g. in a pushchair) or sit for extended periods of time. Screen time should be no more than 1 hour; less is better. When sitting still, engaging in reading and storytelling with you as a parent is encouraged.
Here's some helpful NCT advice about screens and out little ones: Screen time for babies and toddlers: how much? | NCT
Limiting screen time to the recommended daily amounts is really important. It is recommended that children aged 3-4 years should not be restrained for more than 1 hour at a time (e.g. in a pushchair) or sit for extended periods of time. Screen time should be no more than 1 hour; less is better. When sitting still, engaging in reading and storytelling with you as a parent is encouraged.
Here's some helpful NCT advice about screens and out little ones: Screen time for babies and toddlers: how much? | NCT
Healthy Routines: Eating
Ensuring that children eat a healthy diet and are open to trying new foods before starting reception is essential for their physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being.
This supports growth and development, boosts concentration and learning, strengthens the immune system and supports social skills.
Here's some helpful BBC Bitesize information on healthy eating in children: Five tips for helping your kids to eat healthily all year round - BBC Bitesize
This supports growth and development, boosts concentration and learning, strengthens the immune system and supports social skills.
Here's some helpful BBC Bitesize information on healthy eating in children: Five tips for helping your kids to eat healthily all year round - BBC Bitesize
Healthy Routines: Brushing your teeth
It is really important that your child is able to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day (you’ll need to supervise this until they are at least 7.
Your child may have been involved in a Supervised Tooth Brushing Scheme if they attended an Early Years Setting. It is also important to visit a dentist on a regular basis and we know it can be sometimes difficult to find one.
Here's some helpful BBC Bitesize information on teeth brushing in little ones! Q and A with The Singing Dentist - Brushing kids' teeth and taking children to the dentist - BBC Tiny Happy People
Your child may have been involved in a Supervised Tooth Brushing Scheme if they attended an Early Years Setting. It is also important to visit a dentist on a regular basis and we know it can be sometimes difficult to find one.
Here's some helpful BBC Bitesize information on teeth brushing in little ones! Q and A with The Singing Dentist - Brushing kids' teeth and taking children to the dentist - BBC Tiny Happy People