🎒 Getting Ready for 1st Grade · Lesson 5 of 7
Independence and routines
Backpack, bathroom, lunchbox, sleep and mornings.
Self-care at school
| Bathroom | Goes alone, flushes, washes hands |
|---|---|
| Clothes | Jacket on and off, zipper, shoes (Velcro is fine!) |
| Lunch | Opens containers and the milk carton or thermos alone |
| Belongings | Knows their backpack and folder, puts things back |
Practice at home
Pack a lunch in the real lunchbox and let your child open everything alone. Practice the jacket “flip trick”. Label everything with their name.
Sleep
Kids aged 6 need about 9–12 hours of sleep. Two weeks before school, move bedtime and wake-up time back gradually, 15 minutes every few days.
A morning routine
- Pick clothes and pack the backpack the night before
- A picture chart: wake up, bathroom, dress, breakfast, teeth, shoes
- Leave 10 extra minutes
- A calm goodbye ritual at the door
Tip
💡 Do a practice run before school starts: walk or drive to school at the real time.
✏️ Practice: your turn
- Let your child pack and open their own lunch at home
- Make a picture chart for the morning
- Start moving bedtime earlier
- Do a practice trip to school
🧠 Quick quiz
Answer all 4 questions correctly to mark this lesson as done.
0 of 4 correct
All lessons in Getting Ready for 1st Grade
- 🌱 1. What “readiness” really meansFeelings, friends, independence and attention — and what isn’t expected
- 🔤 2. Sounds and lettersRhymes, first sounds, syllables and letters — the fun way
- 🔢 3. Numbers and first mathCounting, quantities, more and less, shapes and patterns
- ✏️ 4. Fine motor skills and pencil gripScissors, lines, drawing and writing their name
- 🧦 5. Independence and routinesBackpack, bathroom, lunchbox, sleep and mornings
- 💛 6. The emotional sideTalking about the change, saying goodbye, friends and confidence
- ☀️ 7. The summer plan15 minutes a day, what to buy, the first week, and who to call