How Do I Prepare My Child for Primary 1?
- Sabreena Nazimudeen
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
How Do I Prepare My Child for Primary 1?
Starting Primary 1 is a big transition for many children—and for their parents too! With increasing demands in literacy, independence, and classroom readiness, many parents wonder: How can I help my child feel confident and prepared before entering P1?
Here are a few essential areas to focus on:
1. Motor Skills: The Foundation for Writing and Learning
Before a child can confidently write sentences or complete worksheets, they need well-developed fine motor skills. Being able to grip a pencil correctly, write steadily, and copy words without frustration is key to keeping up in class.
Simple ways to support motor skill development:
Use thicker pencils or triangular pencil grips to help young children hold their writing instruments more comfortably.
Practice short writing drills (like tracing letters or copying short words) to build muscle memory.
Allow them to use child-friendly scissors, colouring tools, or simple crafting tasks to strengthen hand coordination.
These small exercises go a long way in helping children write quickly and clearly—skills that are crucial as they face longer school hours and more writing-based tasks.
2. Typing Skills in a Digital World
With the rise of home-based learning, basic typing is becoming more relevant even at lower primary levels. While writing should still be prioritised first, teaching your child to type their name, simple words, or short sentences can be a fun and useful activity.
Consider free typing games or let them type short stories they've written to build comfort with keyboards.
3. Phonics and Reading Readiness
A child who can read fluently will naturally absorb more during lessons. Phonics helps children decode words more easily and builds confidence in reading instructions, classroom materials, and storybooks.
If your child is still learning to read:
Focus on blending sounds and recognising sight words
Read aloud daily and talk about the stories together
Use reading apps or picture books with large, clear text
4. Introduce Storytelling Early with the Right Tools
While handwriting and phonics are foundational, children also benefit from early exposure to story structure—how a story begins, builds up, and ends. This helps them not only in writing but also in understanding books, lessons, and oral communication.
Recommended Resource: Tracing Model Compositions: Primary 1
One of the most effective tools we’ve created is the Tracing Model Compositions: Primary 1 book. Specially created by us—The Write Tribe, this unique resource is designed to:
Combine penmanship with storytelling
Expose your child to 12 commonly tested composition themes
Help students trace and absorb model compositions for better story structure awareness
Build theme-based vocabulary and sentence familiarity
Improve motor skills through guided tracing exercises
This book is suitable for both P1 Prep students and current Primary 1 learners. It’s perfect for early exposure to composition writing without expecting children to produce full stories on their own. Instead, they learn by tracing strong examples and absorbing structure intuitively.
Ready to Help Your Child Thrive?
Download your free sample of Tracing Model Compositions: Primary 1 and see how it supports your child’s writing journey—starting today.
Bonus: Join Our P1 Lessons at Yishun
We also offer physical Primary 1 English classes at our Yishun centre.
Every Thursday, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Book a first trial lesson for just $36
Give your child the head start they deserve—both at home and in class.
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