will prepare him for future handwriting demands at school. Hide small beads or coins inside putty and have your child locate them; this activity addresses dexterity and improves hand strength, which will in turn improve small hand tasks such as manipulating small fasteners and using scissors.
Provide little ones with Play-Doh and scissors as well. Cutting Play-Doh provides practice with proper hand placement and gives a child the basic idea of how to open and close the scissors for cutting. Create a "to-do" list and let your child write parts of it. Encourage your child to write "the sounds he hears." It will not be spelled correctly but it is the foundation of conventional writing, even scribbles are the first stage of writing.
Make Time for Reading
Read to your child every day to foster a love for reading and to enhance your child's vocabulary. When we give children the gift of books and language, we are providing them with imaginative experiences that are important in building creative thinkers and innovators. Always have reading material on hand in the car, in the kitchen, in your child's bedroom, and even outside. Whether books are checked out of the library or bought at the market or a bookstore, good children's literature provides the rich language needed for your child to be successful in school.
Look Out for Separation Anxiety
It's perfectly natural for children to experience separation anxiety during the first few weeks when they're dropped off at school. Be prepared for a few tears, but stay positive so that your child doesn't pick up on any anxious feelings that you may have about leaving her. On the drive to school, let your little one know how her day will proceed so that she knows what to expect. When you drop her off, calmly assure her that you will return at the end of the day. Keep your goodbyes short and sweet. Don't linger, as that will only make the separation more difficult for both you and your child. Once your child adjusts to the new school setting, goodbyes will be much easier.