Helping Kids (and Parents) Feel Ready to Start School

It’s our Halloween episode…but after the costumes and dad-jokes, we dive into something all parents ask us about: starting school. If your little one is transitioning to Prep/Kindergarten, this chat is your gentle, practical guide. We cover independence (bags, lunchboxes, self-care), resilience (handling big feelings, problem-solving, asking for help), and why phonological awareness (rhyming, syllable claps, sound hunts) is the pre-literacy superpower. You’ll get easy, everyday ways to model routines, use visual schedules and “think aloud”, plus books and free resources to make the transition feel familiar, not frightening. Listen now, share with a friend, and check the show notes for our school-starter resource list.In this episodeIndependence before Day 1: bags, lunchboxes, toilets, buttons, shoes (velcro vs laces), and morning routines.Resilience in real life: modelling “big feelings,” normalising nerves, and praising effort over outcome.Problem-solving you can model today: “I wonder…” statements, collaborative choices, and turning routine changes into learning.Phonological awareness made fun: rhyming games, syllable claps, I-Spy by sounds, sound sorts, scavenger hunts, and Lego.Social stories, transition visits, and making the new feel known.The inclusive shift: “Is my child ready for school?” → “Is school ready for my child?”LinksNSW Department of Education: https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/parents-and-carers/going-to-school/getting-ready-for-school/starting-primary-schoolQLD Department of Education: https://www.qld.gov.au/education/earlychildhood/prep/preparingABC Kids Early Education (Bluey episode resources): https://www.abc.net.au/abckids/early-education/bluey-early-education-resources/starting-school