The Ultimate Parenting Guide

Not confident enough at school? How to support your child

Children face a lot in their daily school life. You can support their development in a playful way at the same time—whether at home or on the go.(Bild: Christian Schwier - stock.adobe.com)

For many parents, the start of the school year brings fears that their children won’t keep up. Most of the time, this fear is unfounded, but there are various things you can do without putting unnecessary pressure on your child. Plus: What your child should already know, how your child learns best—and what you’re legally allowed to do.

Even in preschool, little ones are playfully prepared for school—they’re introduced to their first numbers and letters, and learn about quantities and shapes. Much of this happens naturally—and often without parents even realizing it. But as school gets closer, parents find themselves wondering more and more often how they can support their children effectively without overwhelming them. This support can also be incorporated into everyday life. 

We’ll share some games you can easily incorporate—see below—and right here you’ll find the other parts of our comprehensive parent’s guide to starting school.

A support catalog published by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, and Research recommends exercises for parents to do with their children across eight skill areas. These areas include letters and sounds, understanding quantities and numbers, counting, as well as perseverance and attention to detail when working, motivation, working memory, phonology, and graphomotor skills. Together, these form the foundation for success in school. The details: