Before entering "big school" your child should have a basic grasp of

• Colours/shapes/numbers
• Telling a story using pictures
• Following a three-step direction in sequence
• Recognising their written name
• Holding a pencil correctly

Before reaching primary school age, most children typically move through these stages

• Solitary play: No attempts to associate with others during play.
• Looking-on-play: May mean verbal contact or only watching what others do.
• Parallel play: Children use the same playthings but play side by side rather than with each other.
• Associative play: Children take ideas from each other, borrow and lend toys or tools
• Cooperative play: Children achieve a certain result together by consciously cooperating.