🎒 Tips for Getting Ready for the First Year of School
The countdown is officially on—my little one is starting school this year! While I’m still wrapping my head around how quickly the preschool years have flown by, we’ve been doing small, intentional things at home to help make this big transition feel natural, fun, and confidence-building. If you’re prepping a first-time student too, here are some real-life tips that have been helping us get ready (emotionally and academically!).
🎶 1. Sing the ABCs in the Car
One of our favorite routines? Singing the ABCs on every drive. It’s simple, familiar, and gives us an easy win during transitions. Repetition is key at this age, and singing in different voices or speeds keeps it fun!
📱 2. Learning Through Apps & Workbooks
We've been using Duolingo ABC (free!) for phonics and letter sounds, and supplementing it with Groove Learning Workbooks that make practicing writing and reading feel like play. The workbooks are resuable and include pen holding aids, so he can learn to hold a pen correctlt.
🕒 3. Practice During School-Time Hours
To make the school-day rhythm less of a shock, we’ve started “afternoon work time” at home during the hours he’ll be at school. It helps his body and brain get used to focusing at that time—and gives us a consistent daily rhythm.
📚 4. Read Together Every Night
Our bedtime reading routine is one of the most comforting things we do. It’s helped him learn sentence flow, build vocabulary, and calm down before bed. Plus, snuggles and stories? Win-win. My husband and I take turns on who reads. I've been reading "Where Do Diggers Sleep At Night?" which we received from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. My husband usually reads Pokémon.
Click here to see if Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is available in your area!
🗓️ 5. Talk About the Days of the Week
We go over the days of the week every morning, pointing them out on a calendar. Visual repetition has helped him understand “today,” “tomorrow,” and “school day,” making abstract time feel a little more concrete.
🔢 6. Count Everything—Pokémon and All!
Whether it’s counting Pikachu cards or beads on an abacus, we turn every chance into a counting game. Numbers are everywhere, and the more familiar they are, the more confident he feels.
🍪 7. Simple Math in Everyday Moments
We sneak in math during snack time (“How many crackers?”), cooking (“If I have 2 eggs and need a total of 4, how many more eggs do I need?”), and even affection (He will ask for X amount of hugs, and I will ask how many he has left.). These playful moments build real math confidence with zero pressure.
⏰ 8. Learning About Time (Sort of!)
He doesn’t totally grasp clocks yet, but he’s fascinated by time—especially when it involves asking for “5 more minutes.” We’ve started pointing to the clock when we do things, just to introduce the idea gradually.
😊 9. Talking About Friends & Feelings
Every day, we chat about what school might be like and who he might meet. He’s already "excited to make “new friends,” and that anticipation is helping balance out the first-day jitters.
Starting school is a big milestone—for both kids and parents! I’ve learned that small, consistent efforts add up. The goal isn’t perfection, but preparation—and a little fun along the way. 💛
Is your little one starting school this year? Let me know what’s helped you get ready—we’re all in this together!
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