June 4, 2021

How to prepare your child for big school

First Early Start Speaker Series of 2021 to focus on school readiness for parents and children

The move from preschool to primary school can be daunting for children and parents. But Dr Lyn Cronin, from the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) Early Start, believes it doesn’t have to be that way.

Early Start’s first Speaker Series of 2021 will take an in-depth look at the transition to a big school for parents and children.

In a talk titled School Readiness: Learn how to best support your child’s transition to big school, Dr Cronin (pictured) will provide practical and valuable advice to parents on how to prepare for a positive start to school.

The presentation will explore what skills teachers recommend for children when starting school, what to consider when deciding whether to send your child to school, and how to prepare your child academically, emotionally, socially, and physically.

Dr Cronin will highlight the concept of ‘readiness’ in starting school through the lens of current theories and research in child development and transition.

“Transition to school for children is an exciting time and can also be somewhat daunting as many changes occur at once. Parents need to be really positive with their children about starting school,” she said.

“The rhetoric around navigating the changes is about being ‘ready, but the reality is that being ‘ready’ for school means different things to different people.”

Dr Cronin is a lecturer in Early Childhood and Primary Education at UOW and is a member of Early Start’s Play, Pedagogy and Curriculum research group.

A former primary school teacher, Dr Cronin’s research focuses on literacy in early children and school settings, transition across school and life stages, and digital technologies.

Tickets to the Early Start Speaker Series are available online. No tickets will be sold at the door.

The presentation will be held on Wednesday, 16 June, from 6pm to 7.30pm, at the University of Wollongong. Tickets are $15 for non-members of Early Start, and $10 for members.

For more information or to book tickets: https://www.earlystartdiscoveryspace.edu.au/events/speaker-series-school-readiness/