Preparing Your Child for School: Expert Advice from Practitioners

So you blinked, and suddenly your baby is starting school in 2026. You could have sworn it was just yesterday you were googling sleep windows, nap schedules, and “how to start my baby on solids.” Now, your social media feed is full of lunchboxes, booklists, and black school shoe sales.

This is a significant transition for your child, but it’s also a big change for you as a parent. Your little one is embarking on a new journey of independence and growth.

This article will provide you with five pieces of advice from two different types of practitioners. Bronwyn Wall, a Psychologist from Mind Connect Psychology in Kogarah, and Dr. Amy Norman, a Paediatric Chiropractor from Dynamic Chiropractic located in Hurstville, share their insights.

With Bronwyn having worked with families for over 15 years, mostly within school systems, there are standout pointers to help make this transition as seamless as possible. From Dr. Amy's perspective in the clinical space, supporting children’s physical development, there are also recommendations to make this transition feel calmer and more supported.

Like any change in life, it’s normal to experience a spike in anxiety. This is the brain and body’s natural way of protecting us from perceived threats. However, sometimes our brains, especially the developing brains of young children, can become hyper-vigilant, reading “threat” where there is simply “new.” The body follows suit, leading to significant physical, emotional, and behavioural responses. Our job is to help them understand that change does not automatically equal danger. We must equip them with the skills and confidence they need to navigate this new season.

The goal of this article is to help children be ready in both body and mind, equipping them with the physical foundations and emotional confidence to step into this new chapter.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare! (Physically and Mentally)

The Emotional Preparation

Begin familiarising your child with their new school as early as possible. Talk about school and what they can expect throughout the day. Practice eating from a lunchbox, including opening packets and peeling a banana on their own. Let them try on their uniform and wear it to the shops. Practice walking to school together.

The NSW Department of Education has fantastic resources, including an e-book, colouring sheets, and a video of Daisy the Koala’s First Day at Big School.

Daisy’s First Day: Daisy's First Day

The Physical Preparation

Just as children need emotional predictability, their bodies also need familiarity with the physical load of school. Start practising:

• Carrying a backpack

• Opening lunchboxes independently

• Managing clothing zippers and shoes

• Sitting upright for activities

• Using scissors

• Drawing and using pencils

  
  

You’re not just preparing their feelings; you are preparing their body for the new demands of the school day.

Build Social Skills and Body Awareness

Social Readiness

Discuss making friends, taking turns, and simple conversation starters. It’s equally important to teach them to speak up when something feels wrong or when they’ve been hurt. If possible, set up playdates before the term starts with children who will be in their class. Even one familiar face can make a world of difference.

Physical Readiness for Social Play

Engaging in playground games, climbing, running, and body-weight movements helps children learn spatial awareness. Some examples include:

• How close to stand to another child

• How to navigate busy areas

• How to move confidently in group play

  
  

Whole-body coordination supports confident social interaction.

Practice Separation and Postural Strength

Emotionally

Develop a consistent, calm goodbye routine (cuddle → kiss → “I can’t wait to see you this afternoon”) and then leave. Lingering, while well-intentioned, often prolongs distress. Prepare your child for who will be doing pick-ups and drop-offs, and talk about which days they may be attending OOSH so they know what to expect.

This is also a wonderful opportunity to create a connection ritual—a tiny love heart drawn on both your hands or a secret handshake only the two of you know. These become emotional anchors throughout the day.

Physically

While emotional separation skills are developing, so is the physical endurance to be away all day. Children need core strength to sit upright during floor time, maintain attention, hold posture during writing, and avoid fatigue-related fidgeting. Sometimes, children come in showing signs of inattentiveness, but it could be due to a lack of postural endurance, causing them to become more restless.

Activities like wheelbarrow walks, monkey bars, and sitting on a gym ball while drawing help establish this postural foundation and are easy to do at home or at a nearby park.

Use Visual Schedules and Fine Motor Practice

Emotionally & Cognitively

Visuals eliminate our reliance on language and reduce cognitive load. They provide a child-friendly checklist that reduces your child’s reliance on you for instructions every morning and helps develop predictable and consistent routines.

Two visuals can make a huge difference:

1. A weekly calendar—so your child knows what’s coming up. Mark things like “Library Day,” “Sports Day,” and who will be doing pick-ups. This builds independence and helps them remember what they need.

2. A morning routine chart—outlining clear, consistent expectations. This supports independence and helps avoid those “how-are-you-still-in-pyjamas-and-the-school-bell-is-about-to-go!” mornings.

   
   

Physically & Functionally

Alongside predictable routines, children need skill confidence with their hands. Often, we think of preparation as letter and number recognition or writing their own name. However, these ideas are great ways to prepare for fine motor work that will also make the transition easier at school.

Things you can practice include:

• Beading and threading

• Opening food packets

• Drawing and writing

• Cutting with scissors

• Twisting lids back on textas

• Managing clothing fasteners

  
  

Fine motor mastery leads to increased confidence and independence.

Protect Their Emotional Energy and Their Physical Alignment

Emotionally

Term 1 of Kindergarten is not the time to add new extracurricular activities or a packed social calendar. Expect very tired kiddos! The mental load of new routines, sensory input, and emotional demands is huge for developing brains. Early bedtimes, simple dinners, and lots of cuddles and connection will be key to surviving the sweaty, messy, dysregulated 4pm tornadoes that may roll in.

Physically

School adds new body loads that are often very new to them. This includes long sitting, heavier backpacks, more structured movement, and repetitive hand use. While some things cannot always be avoided, there are still a few strategies we can try to minimise the collective load on our little ones.

Support their body by:

• Ensuring proper backpack fit (we offer complimentary backpack checks in practice)

• Keeping weight ideally under 10% of body weight (hard to achieve, I know!)

• Maintaining good posture habits

• Checking spinal alignment and gait patterns

• Supporting healthy sleep positions

  
  

Better alignment supports attention, comfort, motor coordination, and emotional regulation. Improving these areas will never go to waste!

A Final Reminder…

As you step into this new season, try to slow down, take a breath, and stay present. This chapter, with its oversized uniforms, lost lunchboxes, emotional drop-offs, and proud little milestones, will soon become another memory in your parenting journey. Just like every season before it, this one will pass, your social media feed will shift again, and you’ll look back wondering how it all happened so quickly!

Wanting more support? You can get in touch with Bronwyn Wall at Mind Connect Psychology here and with Dr. Amy Norman here.

Additional Resources for Parents

Understanding Your Child's Development

It's essential to understand your child's developmental milestones. Familiarise yourself with what to expect at each stage. This knowledge can help you support their growth effectively.

Building a Support Network

Consider forming a support network with other parents. Sharing experiences and advice can be invaluable. Look for local parenting groups or online forums where you can connect with others.

Engaging with Educators

Establish a good relationship with your child's teachers. They can provide insights into your child's progress and help address any concerns you may have. Regular communication can make a significant difference in your child's school experience.

Encouraging a Love for Learning

Foster a love for learning at home. Read together, explore new topics, and encourage curiosity. This will help your child develop a positive attitude towards education.

Prioritising Self-Care

Lastly, remember to take care of yourself. Parenting can be overwhelming, and it's essential to recharge. Make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation.

By following these guidelines, you can help ensure a smooth transition for your child as they embark on this exciting new chapter.