Tips for Primary: Preparing Your Child for School
Well, you just send your child to school for the first time, and you might experience all sorts of feelings, starting from pride, happiness to worries and anxiety. Not all children have difficulties adjusting to school life but for some this new milestone is not easy. Moreover, some children who are fine in the beginning might have stepped back throughout the year. Here are some useful practices you can try to help your child to adopt a new style of life.
Practice saying goodbye
Your child may settle more easily at school if s/he’s used to nursery or reception. If this isn’t the case for your little one, it may be a good idea to arrange some time away from each other during the day. You could ask to drop him/her off at a friend’s or relative’s house for a few hours, to help him/her get used to not seeing you. Saying goodbye may also be easier if your child understands when you’ll be back. Try to get into the habit of explaining what time you’ll return, in terms he/she’ll understand. So, rather than saying “I’ll pick you up at 3”, say “I’ll pick you up after you’ve had a second snack”. You also can use bracelets (any threads will do) to have an inner connection. When child misses you, s/he can touch a bracelet and “feel” your presence.
Help your child make new friends
Making new friends is a big part of starting school. Even if your child already has friends who will be in his class, s/he’ll still meet plenty of new children. You can prepare him/her for this by encouraging his/her social skills as much as possible, such as taking turns and listening to others, asking questions.
Encourage good hygiene skills
School expects basic hygiene rules, knowledge and ability to use the toilet unaided by the time your child starts reception. You can encourage hygiene skills by making sure she flushes the toilet after s/he’s used it and washes hands thoroughly with soap and water. Other useful hygiene skills for your child to master include wiping her own nose without prompting and washing hands before she eats.
Read all about it
There are hundreds of great stories for children about starting school, from the excitement of the first day, to learning school rules, to feeling shy at the idea of meeting new people. Reading about school before a child starts school may help him/her feel more confident about their first day.
Books that show characters from different backgrounds and ethnicities will help your child understand that s/he’s likely to meet lots of new people at school.
Calm your own first-day nerves
Your child takes his/her cues from you. If you have doubts or worries about his/her starting school, he/she may pick up on this and start to feel nervous. Showing him/her how happy and excited you are may help him/her feel more confident on his/her first day.
It may be hard to put your fears aside, so it’s helpful to know that children are much more adaptable than adults. You may be pleasantly surprised at just how well your child settles in, even if it takes you a little longer to adjust!
