The time has arrived for your son or daughter to attend ‘big school’ for the first time.
The time has arrived for your son or daughter to attend ‘big school’ for the first time.
It is a massive day in their young lives and, often, an emotional one for Mom and Dad as their little one leaves the safe environment of their Play School or Pre-Primary for a much larger and sometimes daunting environment.
However, it needn’t be so, as there is so much that you as parents can do to assist in ensuring a smooth transition into this new environment. Here are a few suggestions that can make fitting into ‘big school’ easier for little ones and their parents :
* Start right at the beginning by ensuring that your child enjoys a healthy breakfast, preferably including some protein, before they leave home for school in the morning.
* While on the topic of diet, ensure that you pack a healthy snack for break time, thus instilling healthy eating habits all round.
* Encourage them to drink as much water as possible and avoid fizzy drinks.
* A very difficult one for many parents but, the sooner you are able to ‘drop and leave’, the better. While there may be separation anxiety initially, the longer you, as parents, ‘hang around’ at school, the more difficult it becomes for you and your child. * Make sure they have all they need for their school day.
* Ensure their school bag is the correct size and that all the items they will need can fit in comfortably.
* They should be encouraged to dress themselves, tie their own school shoes and pack their own bags. Make it a big adventure to wear a uniform for the first time!
* They should know a contact telephone number of at least one parent.
* Parents should always speak positively about the school and the teacher, and not allow their possible own bad experiences of school, influence their child’s experience.
* Never bring your child to school late – they feel vulnerable and lose confidence if classes have already commenced.
* Always ensure they are dressed correctly and neatly.
* Read and sign their homework diaries, watch sports fixtures where possible, communicate with the class teacher, attend parent/teacher meetings, read the Headmaster’s weekly newsletters, schedule homework time with them and give this your undivided attention.
* There should be a regular bedtime – not later than 8pm – and also ensure some quiet time with no TV before going to bed. To help them with their adjustment during the first few weeks of school, I would suggest parents assist in the following ways: * Play cutting, drawing and pasting games at home.
* Allow them to make mistakes – they learn from these. * Play games at home where they win and lose. * Encourage them to do things for themselves.
* Assist at home with the correct pencil grip.
* Help develop organisational and listening skills. As parents you need to walk this journey with your child and become fully involved in their educational experience. Going to school for the first time, can, and should be a happy experience for all!
*Derek Braans Head : Kingswood Junior School
