Getting Ready for school

Getting Ready for School

Getting ready for school is a big part of a child’s day, and creating a simple morning routine can help little ones understand what they need to do and encourage them to become more independent.

From brushing their teeth and getting dressed to remembering their school bag, there are lots of little jobs to complete before heading out of the door. Turning these everyday tasks into a familiar routine can help children know what comes next and give them the confidence to start doing more for themselves.

Start by talking about your morning together. Ask your child, “What do we do when we first wake up?” or “What do we need to do before we put our shoes on?” Encourage them to think about the different things they do and the order they usually happen.

You can introduce words such as first, next, then and last as you go. “First we eat our breakfast, then what do we do?” Simple conversations like these help children practice sequencing and remembering the different stages of their morning.

Can you do it yourself?

Morning routines are also a great opportunity to practice independence.

Encourage your child to have a go at some simple tasks themselves. Can they get dressed? Put on their shoes? Brush their hair? Fill their water bottle? Pack their reading book into their school bag?

They might not get everything right the first time, and that’s OK. Giving children opportunities to try everyday tasks can help build their confidence and develop useful skills ready for school.

You could even turn getting ready into a challenge. How many things can they complete without being reminded? Can they remember what comes next?

Create your own Routine Chart

Have a go at our Routine Chart at home. Print out the activity sheets and ask your child to choose the routine cards that match their morning – we’ve even created blank squares for you to personalise to your routine. Put them in the order they need to be completed, then use the chart each morning to help them remember what comes next. Use some blue tack to stick each card to the routine sheet.

Once they’ve completed a job, they can move it from the ‘to do’ to the ‘done’ column as they work through their routine.

Can they complete their whole morning routine and get ready for school?

Practice through play

Role play is a great way for children to explore everyday routines in a fun and familiar way.

At 360 Play, visit Twirl’s Boutique on 360 Street and encourage your child to pretend they’re getting ready for the day. What should they wear? What do they need to do first? Are they ready to head out?

The more children get to practise everyday situations through play, the more familiar those routines can become.

At 360 Play, we believe that play has educational value at every age. Our sports area showcases that 360 Play is not just for little ones, but a destination where older children, teenagers, and families can stay active, challenge themselves, and enjoy quality time together.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to experience everything 360 Play has to offer.