skoleplass.no · skoleplass.no

Starting school is much more about practical self-reliance than academic level. Your child doesn't need to read, write, or do arithmetic before year 1 — that is the school's job. What actually matters is whether they can dress themselves, use the toilet, ask for help, and handle a daily rhythm without constant adult support. On top of that comes the emotional preparation: talking positively but honestly about school. This guide walks through what you should — and should not — focus on in the months before school starts.

What your child actually needs to be able to do

The school does not expect academic skills. Writing, reading, and numeracy start in year 1, and it is the teachers' job to meet every pupil where they are. What is expected is practical and social maturity at a very concrete level:

Independent dressing. Buttons, zips, shoelaces, jacket, hat, mittens. In autumn there are four layers on and off several times a day.
Toilet routine. The child should be able to use the toilet alone, wipe themselves, and wash their hands.
Independent eating. Open the lunchbox and water bottle, handle fruit and bread without adult help.
Asking for help. Speaking to an adult when something is hard, without crying or withdrawing.
Following instructions given to a group. "Everyone fetch their bag now" — the child should understand the message applies to them too.
Waiting for their turn. Standing in line, waiting to speak, accepting that someone else goes first.
Keeping track of their own things. Knowing where the jacket hangs, recognising the bag and the lunchbox.

These are skills the kindergarten already practises. But at home you can help by letting your child do things themselves, even when it is slow. The biggest difference between kindergarten and school is not the academic content — it is the pace and the number of adults. In year 1 there is typically one teacher per 20–25 pupils.

Routines before school starts

Good routines before school starts make the transition much easier. Introduce them gradually in July and August:

Stable bedtimes. Six-year-olds typically need 10–11 hours of sleep. Waking at 07:00 means lights out by 20:30 at the latest. Move bedtime earlier already in July if the summer has been wild.
Morning routine. Through August: get up on time, get dressed, eat breakfast. Practising is half the job.
Breakfast as a habit. Some children are never hungry in the morning. Practise something small — a glass of milk and a slice of bread, or yoghurt — so the day starts with a calorie.
The walk to school as a routine. Walk the route a few times before 15 August. Let the child lead. Talk about dangerous spots, crossings, and where one should not go alone.
Screen-free mornings. It is hard to break a screen habit on the first day of school. Introduce no-screen mornings already in July.

Routines should be the child's, not a source of stress for the parents. If something does not work, try a different version. Adjusting is not failure — it is how routines become routines.

The packing list

The school usually sends a packing list shortly before the start. The basics are similar everywhere:

School bag. 15–20 litres, clearly visible reflectors, good back support. A heavy bag is the enemy — give your child a light bag, not an adult-size one.
Lunchbox. Robust, easy for the child to open. Test at home first.
Water bottle. At least 0.5 litres, leakproof. Label it.
Indoor shoes. Easy to get on and off, without overly complicated laces.
Rain gear and rubber boots. All year round. Children are outside in all weather, and being dry is not a luxury.
Wool base layer and fleece jacket. Norwegian playgrounds are cold for longer than we remember. Don't wait until November.
A change of clothes. Especially at the start — for accidents, rain, or forgotten kit.
Reflectors. At least two, ideally on the bag too.

Don't rush out and buy everything new. Children lose, wear out, and forget things. Keep what is practical, not what looks good in a photo.

Emotional preparation

How you talk about school shapes how your child meets it. A few moves that actually help:

Speak positively but concretely. "I'm looking forward to you meeting new friends" is more useful than "school is going to be so fun!" Concrete pictures stick better.
Tell them what you liked at school. Your own stories give the child a framework. Tell them what was hard, too — it helps the child to know it is normal to have rough days.
Don't over-promise. Don't say "you'll have an incredibly fun time every day" — it doesn't land. Better to say "some days will be great, some will be tiring, and that's totally normal."
Visit the playground in the afternoon. When school is out, the child can explore without pressure. Point out where the class will be, where the toilet is, where you wait for parents after school.
Meet new friends in advance. If your child has attended the pre-school day (Norwegian only), try inviting one or two children who are starting at the same school for a playdate before summer. One familiar face on 15 August changes a lot.

Children do not have the same emotional toolkit as adults. "Are you excited about school?" is a big question. "What are you looking forward to most?" and "Is there anything you're wondering about?" are more concrete and produce better answers.

What NOT to focus on

This part matters. Parents often pile on reading, writing, and numbers — making the transition unnecessarily heavy:

Don't teach your child to read in advance. Reading and writing instruction is specifically designed at school. Children who learn "half-way" at home can pick up bad habits that have to be unlearned.
Don't drill the letters as a test. Letters can be encountered naturally — playing with letter magnets, reading signs, writing their name — but it is not a goal to test the child on the alphabet.
Don't drill numbers as maths. Counting to ten, recognising numbers up to 20, understanding more/less — that is what is expected. Arithmetic is taught in year 1.
Don't over-focus on social performance. "You have to make lots of friends" piles on pressure your child does not need.
Don't pretend everything will be perfect. Children sense anxiety dressed up as excitement. Honesty works better.

What you do need to do a lot of: talk, read aloud, let your child try things themselves, give them time.

Test the bag before day one. Pack it with what it will actually contain — indoor shoes, rain gear, lunchbox, water bottle — and let your child carry it. A bag that is too heavy becomes a problem in the middle of a rainy week. 15–20 litres is enough for year 1; empty "puffed-up" bags don't last.

Special situations

Some groups need more preparation:

Children with language needs. If your child has another mother tongue, ask the school for an early assessment conversation. Many municipalities have separate programmes for newly arrived pupils.
Children with diagnoses or special needs. Notify the school early. The school should be prepared on day 1, not in October. For pupils with a known need for adaptation, ask for a meeting before school starts.
Children for whom you are considering postponed start. Postponed school start (Norwegian only) requires an expert assessment and an application — start early in the spring of the previous year.
Children who have struggled in kindergarten. Tell the school, with the child's consent where possible. The school does not automatically receive transferred information from the kindergarten, and the form teacher benefits a lot from knowing.

The last two weeks before school starts

The last stretch before school starts is mostly about staying calm. A gentle ramp-up:

The last week: back to fixed bedtimes and morning routine.
Pack the bag the day before, together with the child.
Lay out clothes the night before the first day.
Eat breakfast, walk to school in good time, be there before it gets crowded.
Afterwards: a calm afternoon. Don't plan a birthday party for the same day.

Starting school is not a single event — it is a month that begins a new phase. What your child needs most is predictability, calm adults, and time to land.

Where to find more information

The school sends detailed start-of-school information through June and August. The local public-health clinic (helsestasjonen), your GP, and the kindergarten can all help if you are unsure whether your child is ready. For families still orienting themselves — or considering schools other than the assigned local one — our school overview is a fair starting point for comparison. If you are starting in a city, look at the municipality overview for Bærum or a school example such as Bekkestua skole to see what practical information is shared before the first school day.

Sources and further reading

Frequently asked questions

Should my child be able to read before school starts? No. The school takes responsibility for reading and writing instruction in years 1 and 2, and there is no expectation that the child can read or write at the start. Some children pick up letter recognition on their own — that's fine, but not a goal. What helps more is that the child is familiar with books as a cultural object, through reading aloud and conversations about the pictures.

What do we do if our child is anxious? Take the worry seriously without making it bigger than it is. Talk concretely about what makes the child feel unsafe — it is often specific things (the toilet, the food, whether an adult will come if they need help) that can be solved directly. Visit the playground in good time, walk the route together, and talk positively about school without dismissing the fear. If the child needs more support than you can give alone, contact the public-health nurse early.

When should the child stop using a nappy? By the start of school the child should be able to use the toilet independently for both wee and poo, wipe themselves, and wash their hands. A night nappy is no problem — it is not a school issue. If the child has ongoing daytime difficulties, talk to the kindergarten or the GP. Some children take longer, and the parents' anxiety must not become the child's.

Do we need a new lunchbox and bag? A new bag is useful because it must be big enough for folders, books, and outerwear — many schools recommend 15–20 litres. The school usually communicates the requirements. A lunchbox, water bottle, and indoor shoes are also needed. Be cautious about buying a whole new wardrobe — much will be worn out or lost in autumn, and a practical basic kit is fine.

How long is the first day of school? The first day is usually short — typically 2–3 hours. In the first weeks many schools have a gradual ramp-up of the school day's length. After a few weeks year 1 follows the regular timetable, which is usually shorter than older year groups — 3–4 hours per day. SFO starts the same day or the week after, covering the time before and after school.

What about allergies, medication, and other health information? Notify the school in writing before the start. For serious allergies or anaphylactic reactions the school should have a clear action plan and access to an adrenaline pen if one has been prescribed. For other medical conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, or seizures there should be a written plan. This is the school's responsibility — ask for a meeting if you are unsure.

Does the child need to know how to read a clock before starting school? No. Clock-reading is taught in lower primary, usually in years 1 and 2. The child does benefit from a basic understanding of time — morning, mid-morning, afternoon, evening — and from regular routines. Daily-plan boards with pictures can help children who struggle with transitions.

Preparing your child for the start of school — a practical guide for parents