The OT Blog: Tips For Primary School Success

Top Occupational Therapy Tips to Prepare Your Child with Down Syndrome for Primary School Success

Today's OT blog is from, Natasha Kiernan

Starting primary school is a major milestone for every child—it can bring a mix of excitement and uncertainty. As occupational therapists, we know that preparation is key. By supporting your child’s unique needs in advance, you can help them build confidence, independence, and joy in their new environment.

Here are some top OT tips to help prepare your child for this important transition:

1. Start with Structure and Routine

Children thrive on predictable routines. Begin establishing a visual schedule at home for the morning routine. This will make getting ready for school easier when September comes and will teach your child to use a visual schedule—an important skill they can carry into the classroom.

2. Practice Self-Care Skills Daily

Focus on building independence in daily tasks such as:

• Dressing and undressing (especially managing shoes, buttons, or zippers)

• Toileting routines

• Washing hands and using tissues

A girl choosing her outfit

Helpful tips:

• Attach a hair tie or keyring loop to jacket zippers to make it easier to grip

• Practice opening and closing lunchboxes, drink bottles, and snack containers

• Use Velcro shoes and elastic waistbands for easy dressing

• Support your child to put their shoes on the correct feet: Choose a sticker featuring an animal or character your child loves and cut it in half, vertically. Stick the left-hand half of the sticker into the lower inside sole of their left shoe; stick the right-hand half of the sticker into the lower inside sole of their right shoe. Now all your child has to do is position their shoes so that the sticker halves match up to make the complete picture, and they'll have the shoes lined up ready to put on correctly.

  
  

Break tasks into small steps, offer plenty of praise, and allow extra time for practice.

3. Strengthen Fine Motor Foundations

Delayed fine motor development can make tasks like holding a pencil or using scissors more challenging. Fun activities like threading beads, playing with playdough, or using tongs can build hand strength and coordination.

Millie practicing cutting playdough

Also practice:

• Using pegs, stickers, or coin slot games

• Opening zip-lock bags and food packaging commonly found in lunchboxes

• Taking books out of a school bag and putting them on the table and finding the correct page

• Opening a pencil case and selecting a pencil

  

  
  

4. Support Gross Motor Confidence

Work on balance, coordination, and strength through activities like:

• Walking on uneven surfaces

• Climbing stairs with alternating feet

• Catching and throwing soft balls

These skills help your child feel confident and safe in busy school environments, especially on the playground. Practice walking with a backpack or navigating steps to mimic school settings.

5. Address Sensory Needs Early

Many children with Down syndrome experience sensory processing differences. Observe your child’s reactions to sound, light, touch, movement, and crowded spaces. OT-led sensory strategies can help your child feel more regulated in the busy school setting.

Try:

• Gradually introducing new textures like school uniforms

• Offer noise-cancelling headphones in loud spaces or model using them yourself (these can be borrowed from places such as Carrickmacross Toy Library)

• Providing a sensory enriched environment.

  
  

6. Encourage Table-Top Play and Focus

Help your child get used to sitting at a table and focusing on an activity. Try puzzles, colouring, or simple building games to build focus and fine motor control.

Also consider:

• Using timers or visual cues to show how long an activity will last

• Exploring the use of fidget tools (when appropriate) to support attention

  
  

7. Facilitate Play

Practice turn taking, sharing and swapping. Swapping is a great early negotiation skill!

8. Role-Play School Scenarios

Make the unfamiliar more familiar. Act out daily school routines to help your child know what to expect. Try:

• Hanging up a backpack

• Raising a hand to request help

  

  
  

Bonus Tip: Recognising Their Name

Help your child learn to recognise their name in print before starting school. This will support them in finding their labelled belongings, identifying their seat or tray, and feeling confident in their new learning space. Use fun, consistent visuals at home to reinforce name recognition, like a name tag on their bedroom door or lunchbox.