(HealthDay News) -- As your child nears school age, you should focus on developing skills to help ease the transition.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests how parents can help prepare kids for school:

• Teach your child to play well with others, including discouraging crying and fighting.
• Teach the child to listen well and to be quiet when a story is read.
• Practice using the potty independently.
• Teach your child how to work with buttons and zippers.
• Teach your child his/her name, address and phone number.