Preparing Your Child for Junior Infants

Starting school is a huge milestone for your child and a special occasion for you. For some of you, this is your first child starting school; for others, you’ve been through this before. Either way, every child who comes through our doors in September is a unique individual, and they will adjust to school in their own way.

The experience of starting school can feel daunting for children. They are making a big adjustment from playschool, facing a new environment, a larger building, and many more children vying for the teacher’s attention. With the right preparation, however, their transition can be happy and positive.

First Things First

Schoolbag
When buying a schoolbag, ensure your child can open and close it independently. It should be large enough to fit an A4 folder for homework.

Lunchbox and Drink Bottle
Choose a lunchbox and drink bottle that your child can manage themselves. Lunchtime is a highlight for Junior Infants—they love eating and chatting together!

  • For the first two weeks (home at 11:30 am), only a small snack and drink are needed.

  • Junior Infants often take time to eat lunch due to socializing. Make lunch convenient and easy: small sandwiches, chopped fruit or vegetables, crackers, yoghurts, etc. Large items like apples or big yoghurts are better for home.

  • When staying until 1:30 pm, pack for both small and big breaks, showing your child what to eat at each.

Coats
Children should be able to put on, take off, and hang up their coats independently. In winter, the same applies to hats, scarves, and gloves.

Shoes and Runners
Velcro shoes and runners are best, as laces are often impractical for Junior Infants.

Labelling
Please label all your child’s belongings to prevent items from being lost.

Independence in Daily Tasks

Using the Bathroom
Ensure your child can use the bathroom independently—flushing, washing hands, etc. Accidents happen, and teachers have spare clothes in the classroom and will handle situations sensitively.

Activities to Enhance Learning

Fine Motor Skills
Encourage activities such as colouring, cutting, and jigsaws to develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

Listening Skills
Listening is a fundamental communication skill. Children need to hear, understand, remember, and follow instructions. You can support this at home by giving small tasks where they must listen and follow through, e.g., “Go upstairs, get your shoes, and bring them downstairs.”

Patience and Taking Turns
Learning to wait for their turn and share is an essential social skill. At school, children will wait their turn to speak or use resources. You can encourage this by teaching them not to interrupt and by engaging in activities that require patience, such as board games, puzzles, or planting seeds and waiting for them to grow.

See our padlet here to support you. Padlet