Do you have a child who is about to start school this fall? As a former teacher, there are a few things that we REALLY wish your child would know how to do. Read below to learn about the 10 things teachers wish your child would know how to do before starting school.

1. Use the bathroom on their own

Your child should be completely toilet trained by the time they start Kindergarten. This includes WIPING! Please practice this with your child before they start school.

2. Wash their hands properly

Kindergarten is full of germs. Teaching your child to wash their hands properly will not only protect them, but it will help keep some germs away from their classmates and teachers as well.

3. Wipe and blow their nose

Nothing is worse than a child with a snotty nose snotting everywhere. Teach your child how to use a tissue instead of their arm or their clothes to wipe and blow their nose. Your teacher will be forever grateful.

4. Cough into their elbow

I can not tell you how many children STILL do not know how to cough in their elbow in 4th or 5th grade. Being coughed all over is no fun at all. Teach your child early on how to cough into their elbow to prevent coughing over everyone around them.

5. Dress themselves

Your child should be able to pull their pants back on and zip and or button them after using the bathroom. This goes for any other type of clothing they wear to school too, make sure they know how to dress themselves if they have to change for any reason.

6. Put on their own shoes

Your child should be able to put on their shoes. I recommend slip on shoes or velcro shoes. Tieing shoelaces is a really hard concept and most kindergarteners can not do this for a while. Your teacher and your child will thank you for steering clear of shoes with laces for school.

7. Put on their own jacket

It will be very helpful for your child’s teacher if they can put on their own jacket. Bonus points if they can zip it! 

8. Open snack/lunch items

There is a limited amount of time for snack and lunch during the school day. Make sure your child knows how to open their lunchbox and their food items. This way, they will not have to wait until their teacher can get to them to eat their food! 

9. Open and close their backpack

Show your child how to zip and unzip their backpack. This will save a lot of time for them as well as their teacher. Additionally, they will HOPEFULLY be less likely to lose things if they know how to zipper their bag properly.

10. Know their first and last name

A lot of children come into Kindergarten knowing their name, but you would be surprised how many do not know their last name! It would be greatly beneficial to practice not only your child knowing their first and last name but also a parent or guardians first and last name. BONUS points if they can also write their name!!

For more information about preparing your child for kindergarten, click the images below: