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Back to school can be an exciting time for families

The Learning Partnership offers some tips to ease the transition

Schools across the country will be opening their doors to students beginning next week. For thousands of children across Canada, this will be their first step inside the educational system and this is the week to prepare your child as well as the family.

To help ease the transition into the classroom, The Learning Partnership (TLP), a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to championing a strong public education system in Canada, is providing strategies and resource ideas that will enable parents to help prepare their children for the start of kindergarten by introducing early literacy and numeric learning skills through play.
    
"Our children deserve every opportunity to succeed," says Veronica Lacey, president and CEO of The Learning Partnership. "Starting school is a huge milestone for both the child and parents. More than ever before, it's important that we reach out to parents and teachers -- and help provide them with the necessary tools to make sure that children are given the opportunities to succeed at school."
    
Recent research used by The Learning Partnership has shown that when parents are given the proper early learning resources for use at home, pre-school children are better prepared for school and learning. Furthermore, parents who establish a foundation in early learning for their children at home are better prepared to support school success.
    
Keeping this in mind and recognizing that preparing children for school can be a challenge, Ms. Lacey recommends that parents and children use early learning materials and engage in play-based activities which will help their children with the transition to school.

Top tips for early learning and a successful transition into kindergarten  include:

 --   Take every opportunity that comes along to talk to your child -- ask  questions and answer questions. This will not only develop the  child's language skills but also nurture curiosity.

--   Read to your child and talk about books to help develop your child's  listening skills and an interest in stories and print.

 --   Talk to your child about letters and numbers and do fun activities with them to help your child develop number and letter awareness. For example, when at the grocery store make a game of looking for items with a letter that is the same as your child's initials.

--   If English is your second language (ESL), speak to your child in the language that is most comfortable for you. ESL parents should continue reading and talking in their first language to their children.

--   Initiate activities with resources such as crayons, safety scissors, construction paper, glue and playdough to help your child develop the finger control and the coordination they need for writing as well as encourage their creative expression.

--   Chant rhymes and sing songs to help your child play with language as well as hear and recognize sounds and learn new words.

--   Encourage independence: help your child learn to get dressed; express feelings, thoughts and needs clearly to others (such as going to the  washroom or getting a beverage).

- -  Help your child make choices, for example: which clothes to wear, what activities to do.

--   Give your child opportunities to play with other children, share and take turns.
   
--   If possible, introduce your child to their teacher, bring them to their new classroom so they are familiar with their new environment, and know what their school day will be like.

These learning activities can be used by any parent who has a pre-school child. Take an interest -- and with the right resources packed in the knapsack, both you and your child will have a great day at school. Remember, getting ready for the learning adventure begins at home. And when your child comes home, talk to them about their day because tomorrow is going to be full of new learning adventures.
   
"By following these few easy steps, we can prepare our children for the excitement of a lifetime of learning," concluded Ms. Lacey.

For information on TLP, go to www.thelearningpartnership.ca