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Will your child be starting P1 next year? The first day of primary school is a milestone moment &mdash; not just for children, but for parents too!
Apart from the social aspects of adjusting to primary school, many parents are also concerned about academics. For instance, they wonder if their children are truly &lsquo;ready&rsquo; for school, and how they will cope in class.&nbsp;
Below, we highlight the biggest questions from our parent community about P1, with tips and resources to help ease the transition.
<h2>What should a child know before Primary 1?</h2>
Are children expected to solve problem sums or write simple stories as soon as they enter Primary 1? Not at all!&nbsp;
In fact, the Ministry of Education has been very clear about what children need to know:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">For Maths, children are only expected to count to 10, and have a basic understanding of numbers. For example, they should know that 5 is more than 4, or 4 is less than 5. They should also be able to add and subtract by counting the fingers on one or both hands.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">For English, children should be able to express their needs and wants, ask and respond to simple questions, and talk about their experiences using simple words.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">For the Mother Tongue Language or MTL, children should be able to understand simple instructions, and respond to simple questions. More importantly, they should have an interest in learning the MTL.</li>
</ol>
Need help to prepare your child in these skills? <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/3-myths-about-primary-1-that-all-parents-should-know/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read our P1 readiness guide</a>.
<h2>What do kids learn in Primary 1 for English and Maths?</h2>
Many primary schools use STELLAR readers during their English lessons &mdash; STELLAR is an acronym for &ldquo;Strategies for Teaching English Language Learning and Reading.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The STELLAR programme helps students to acquire English proficiency through activities and exercises that develop the following skills:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Listening</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Speaking</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Reading</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Comprehension</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Writing</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Visual literacy (understanding the message conveyed by images)</li>
</ul>
Even if your child&rsquo;s school is using a different set of readers, these will be the typical skills tested during non-weighted assessments. For more information, read our guide to <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/how-to-teach-primary-1-english-at-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">helping your child with Primary 1 English at home</a>.
For maths, many schools will use the &ldquo;Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract&rdquo; framework for their lessons:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">&lsquo;Concrete&rsquo; refers to using manipulatives, such as counting blocks.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">&lsquo;Pictorial&rsquo; is about using drawings, diagrams, charts, and graphs.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">&lsquo;Abstract&rsquo; refers to the use of symbols, i.e. numbers.</li>
</ul>
In a typical progression, a child will first learn to count, add, or subtract using blocks and other physical objects. Next, the child will proceed to do the same with pictured objects, and finally, the child will learn to represent this with numbers.
To coach your child in Primary 1 maths at home, you can use the same approach &mdash; click <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/how-to-teach-primary-1-maths-at-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to find out more.
<h2>Does my child need tuition in Primary 1?</h2>
The most common reason for starting tuition in Primary 1 is to brush up on the MTL.&nbsp;
It can be difficult to gain proficiency in a second language, especially if it is seldom used at home. Research has suggested that a child needs to be exposed to a second language for at least 30% of the time, in order for effective learning to take place. This is not feasible for many homes, which explains why second language tuition is so popular!
Another good reason to seek help early is if you suspect your child might have a special learning need. For instance, if your child has been identified for the school&rsquo;s <a href="https://beta.moe.gov.sg/primary/curriculum/learning-support/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learning Support Programme</a> but does not show improvement after several weeks, do talk to the teachers to see if you should have your child assessed for a learning difficulty such as dyslexia.&nbsp;
For primary schoolers, learning red flags might include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Reading challenges, e.g. remembering sight words, sounding out words, and reading comprehension</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Difficulties with basic spelling and grammar &mdash; it takes hours for your child to prepare for a spelling test</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Finding it hard to grasp maths concepts</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A lack of organisational skills, such as not being able to pack one&rsquo;s schoolbag</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Not understanding oral instructions&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Difficulties expressing oneself</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Acting out over minor situations</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Being easily distracted</li>
</ul>
Want to chat with other parents about special needs and learning difficulties?<a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewforum.php?f=75" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Join the conversation on the KiasuParents forum</a>.
<h2>How should I prepare my child for the first day of Primary 1?</h2>
To help your child get ready for the first day of school, focus on daily life skills, such as:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Getting dressed &mdash; your child can practise putting on the school uniform before school begins</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Putting on shoes and tying shoelaces, if not using shoes with velcro</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Packing a school bag</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Keeping track of one&rsquo;s belongings</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Asking for permission (e.g. to use the bathroom) and asking for help (e.g. alerting the teacher if one feels ill)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Copying or writing a teacher&rsquo;s instructions into the student handbook</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ordering food &mdash; when dining out, let your child order his or her meal</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Handling money and change</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Eating within a specified timeframe</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Basic hygiene habits such as ensuring that a toilet is clean after use, and the washing of one&rsquo;s hands</li>
</ul>
If you care about your child&rsquo;s academic performance, you should also help your child to establish good sleep habits. <a href="https://time.com/3663796/for-better-grades-let-your-kids-sleep-more/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research</a> has shown that better sleep leads to better grades, especially in maths and languages!
Children aged seven to 12 will thrive if they can get<a href="http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/sleep.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 10 to11 hours</a> of sleep each night. But if you&rsquo;re unable to bring bedtimes forward, the next best thing is to ensure that your child&rsquo;s quality of sleep is not compromised, by:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Having a no-devices-before-bedtime rule, as device use can affect sleep quality</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Keeping to a consistent bedtime routine &mdash;&nbsp;showering and brushing of teeth, a bedtime story, and lights out</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ensure that your child is not consuming caffeine in the evening, which could keep him or her awake</li>
</ul>
Need more sleep-friendly suggestions? Read our <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/5-ways-to-help-your-children-sleep-earlier/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">step-by-step guide</a> to making early bedtimes happen in your home!
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Your Biggest Questions About Primary 1, Answered!

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In the age of Covid-19, preparing for primary school may look slightly different than before.
For one, certain experiences such as school orientations may shift online, depending on what the prevailing situation is. Also, compared to previous years, preschools may have had fewer opportunities to prepare children for life in primary school, due to our new social distancing realities.
Furthermore, with Covid-safe practices — such as masks on for the entire school day — there may be new habits to get accustomed to, especially if your child has skipped out on preschool. And finally, schools are still likely to switch to Home-Based Learning or HBL if the situation calls for it, and this requires self-discipline on the child’s part, so that he or she doesn’t lose focus and fall off track in terms of schoolwork.
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With all this in mind, you may feel more anxious about whether or not your child is “school ready.” Please rest assured that schools do not expect parents to do too much when it comes to academic readiness. However, they do hope that parents will place an emphasis on soft skills such as self-control — an example would be the ability to pay attention, instead of talking or reading a book while a class is in session.
Below, we outline some skills and expectations that schools might have for your child, so that you can help to ease your child’s transition into primary school.
<h4>Basic Academic Skills For Primary 1</h4>
Based on the school orientation materials prepared by some primary schools, here are the literacy and numeracy skills that many children will have by the time they enter primary 1.
Literacy Skills
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">For English, to read and write the 26 letters of the alphabet in capital and small letters. (Note: it is a common mistake to say “the alphabets” when we really mean “letters.” An “alphabet” is the set of all the letters in a written language.)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Write one’s name in English and the Mother Tongue</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Read and write simple words in English and the Mother Tongue</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Read and construct simple sentences in English and the Mother Tongue</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Understand simple instructions in English and the Mother Tongue</li>
</ul>
Numeracy Skills
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Count from 1 to 20</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tell the time</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Know the values of dollar notes and coins</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Remember important telephone numbers (or have it written on an easily accessible notecard)</li>
</ul>
Don’t worry unduly if your children have not picked up the skills listed above, as all primary schools have <a href="https://www.moe.gov.sg/primary/curriculum/learning-support" target="_blank" rel="noopener">learning support</a> programmes to help students catch up. 
For English and Maths, weaker students will be identified at P1, through screening tests that will be conducted upon school entry. For Mother Tongue Languages, weaker students will be identified at P2 to join a support programme at P3 and 4. Students who continue to face challenges after intervention will be screened for learning difficulties such as dyslexia. 
Recent figures are not available, but past estimates have indicated that about<a href="http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/20080129995.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 12 to 14 percent</a> of P1 children require additional support each year. 
On the flipside, if your children are fast learners, you may be tempted to help them “skip ahead” by working on advanced material. Educators will generally advise that you do not do this, as <a href="https://www.schoolbag.edu.sg/story/are-you-over-preparing-your-child-for-p1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">overpreparation can hinder learning</a>.
First, children may feel stretched thin with too many enrichment activities, and second, they may become bored and restless in school as they are already familiar with what is being taught. Worse, they may adopt their own learning shortcuts or even decide that teachers are not worth listening to, which will increase their disengagement from school.
There is no need to give a P1 child materials from P2 and beyond—let the school set the pace. If your child is truly gifted, he or she can transfer to the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) after the <a href="https://www.moe.gov.sg/programmes/gifted-education/identification" target="_blank" rel="noopener">screening process</a> in P3.
<h4>Essential Non-Academic Skills For Primary 1</h4>
You may not realise just how much you have been doing for your preschooler, until you discover that he or she doesn&#8217;t know how to button a shirt or fasten a seatbelt.
During the months leading up to the first day of school, you can learn to let go, and entrust your child with more personal responsibilities, such as getting dressed without assistance. Don’t sweat the small stuff, for instance, if socks are not neatly put on. Your child will learn slowly, but surely.
Some examples of daily life skills that your child should have include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Getting dressed (your child can practise putting on the school uniform before school begins)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Putting on shoes and tying shoelaces, if not using shoes with velcro</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Packing a school bag</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Keeping track of one’s belongings</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Asking for permission (e.g. to use the bathroom) and asking for help (e.g. alerting the teacher if one feels ill)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Copying or writing a teacher’s instructions into the student handbook</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ordering food (when dining out, let your child order his or her meal)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Handling money and change</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Eating within a specified timeframe</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Basic hygiene habits such as ensuring that a toilet is clean after use, and the washing of one’s hands</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Responding to bullying and <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/think-you-know-everything-about-cyberbullying-you-could-be-wrong/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cyberbullying</a>, which could be the more common problem these days</li>
</ul>
You may have also heard about the importance of “soft skills,” or skills that help a person to adapt to different situations by communicating effectively, collaborating, and managing conflict. To be frank, it can be hard to keep track of all the skills that a school-going child might need. As a guide, you can refer to UNICEF’s <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-12-core-life-skills-for-MENA-region-Source-UNICEF-MENA-report-2017-The-four_fig3_329523137" target="_blank" rel="noopener">12 Core Life Skills</a>. These consist of:
Personal Empowerment Skills
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Self Management</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Communication</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Resilience</li>
</ul>
Learning Skills
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Problem solving</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Critical thinking</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Creativity</li>
</ul>
Leadership/Employability Skills
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cooperation</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Negotiation</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Decision making</li>
</ul>
Citizenship Skills
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Participation</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Empathy</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Respect for diversity</li>
</ul>
Here are some reflection questions for parents:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What do each of the above items mean to you, or, what specific skills do you think fall under each item? </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Which skills do you consider most important for P1?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">What are some practical ways to help your child develop the most important skills before school begins?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Is there something that you consider important that isn’t on this list?</li>
</ul>
We hope that this framework will be useful in helping you decide what life skills to prioritise for your child. For more ideas, you can also read our parent-contributed <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/preparing-a-child-for-primary-one-non-academic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">P1 Preparation Checklist</a>, as well as Schoolbag.sg’s list of <a href="https://www.schoolbag.edu.sg/story/put-the-books-down!-6-skills-your-child-really-needs-for-p1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6 Soft Skills For School Success</a>.
<h4>Covid-19 Readiness For Primary 1</h4>
The pandemic has been a long and exhausting journey even for adults, so do have patience with your child.
To talk to kids about Covid-19, you can download the free e-book by UNICEF, titled “<a href="https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/my-hero-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener">My Hero Is You</a>,” which is suitable for children aged 6 to 11. The story addresses the concerns voiced by children during the current phase of the pandemic, and explores the various coping mechanisms that they can use when facing difficult emotions like fear, anger, and sadness.
This is also the time to ensure that your children remain in good health, by adhering to strict bedtimes and limiting their screen time. Although it may be challenging, you should find ways for your children to exercise at least several times a week — taking regular walks in a nearby park is a good start.
Unlike before, where children could readily play together and attend birthday parties, there could be limited opportunities to socialise with classmates in the new school year. To foster a sense of community, do join a <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/how-to-survive-class-whatsapp-groups/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">class WhatsApp group</a> if there is one — when used wisely, it is a great way to bond with fellow parents and feel less alone. You will appreciate the support and camaraderie, especially during HBL!
If your child is not familiar with Covid-safe practices such as masking up for long periods, now is a good time to find a mask that your child is comfortable with, so that he or she can practise wearing it for a longer duration.
It remains uncertain how disruptive the new school year might be. You can stay informed by reading about <a href="https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/article/kids-who-learn-well-during-covid-19-disruptions-what-are-they-doing-differently/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kids who learn well during Covid-19</a>. Find out what they are doing differently, so that you can prepare your child to weather the storm too.
Above all, have faith in your child’s ability to cope with school life, with or without social distancing. Try as you might, you can’t prepare your child for every single school scenario that might crop up — and that would be defeating the purpose of school as a place of learning. You are doing your bit at home, so leave the rest to the school teachers and leaders, and trust that they too will do their jobs well.