Personalised story for first PE lesson at school

What happens in your child and the First PE Lesson

1. Your child spots PE kit day on the classroom timetable.
2. Getting changed feels tricky, and your child takes a careful breath.
3. The class practises balancing, stretching and moving around the hall.
4. Your child has a go, then cheers when another child keeps trying.
5. At the end, your child packs away the kit with a proud smile.

How the first page could read

It was PE day at school, and your child's kit bag waited beneath the coat peg. Inside were a T-shirt, shorts and trainers, folded as neatly as a tiny plan. But when the teacher said, “Time to get changed,” your child felt a fluttery feeling in their tummy.

Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.

Why this story works

For children aged 4 to 7, a first PE lesson can bring several new steps at once: finding their kit, changing clothes, listening in a busy hall and joining in with unfamiliar activities. This story keeps the focus on those small, recognisable moments rather than on being the fastest or best. Your child sees that taking a turn, practising a movement and encouraging another child are all worthwhile parts of the lesson. It gives parents a gentle way to talk through PE kit and changing routines before school, while ending on a concrete, proud moment: packing the kit away after having a go.

Reading it together

• Read it the evening before PE day and pause to talk through where your child's kit will go at school.
• Let your child practise putting on and taking off a T-shirt, shorts and trainers in a calm moment at home.
• After reading, ask your child which activity they would like to try first and what kind words they could say to a classmate.

Suggested art style: Animated film

Animated film artwork can show clear, lively movement in the PE hall while keeping your child's expressions easy to read. A sidekick idea: Bounce, a cheerful beanbag with an encouraging grin. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.