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Preparing young children for school does not have to be difficult or unappealing. In fact, it can actually be quite enjoyable for both parent and child. With a few staging ideas, inexpensive creative learning tools and a positive attitude, you can help your child be ready for one of the most exciting and important times in their lives.

You do not need to spend a fortune to have a designated learning environment for you child at home. It is uncomfortable for anyone to learn in an environment where they cannot sit and look at the tools and learning materials in front of them. Designate a table and chairs for you and your child to sit. If you have a train table with a top, you can easily pull up a chair and use this area, as long as it is well lit. Convert other pieces of furniture that you aren’t using into a makeshift desk and make the surrounding area appealing. Turn on some light classical music on your radio for background inspiration.

Purchasing a marker board, dry erase board or small chalkboard is a great way to have that visual aid in front of your child. Lead by example by spelling out words and having them try. Triangular shaped crayons are a wonderful thing to help your child learn to properly grip writing utensils, as their fingers place properly around the 3-point shape. For children who may become distracted by paper on crayons, crayons in plastic tubing that can be twisted up are now available to avoid peeling paper off. Magnet boards with magnet letters and numbers are a great way to teach children basic addition and subtraction math problems. Inexpensive activity books and coloring books can be purchased at the dollar store and in the dollar section at general mass retail stores for you to teach your child basic age-appropriate activities. Try to pin down anything they are having difficulty with, such as appropriately holding a pair of scissors and cutting a piece of paper. Continue to work on the things they might have problems with in a fun way, such as making paper snowflakes, so they grasp holding those scissors. Reward your child with stickers or other small things that appeal to them.

It is important to take breaks with young children. Sitting them down for long periods of time will result in inattentiveness and tiring out. Have movement breaks and dance around the room with them. Make the experience fun and most of all, have a positive attitude about learning. Your attitude about learning will rub off on them and will set the tone for how they feel about entering school.