Sending off young children to big school may still require extra preparation. This is even with the fact that these children are not going to school for the first time. However, pre-school is a lot different from primary school and this very difference may cause some anxiety on the part of the child. Parents can do a lot to help ease those anxieties by taking into consideration the different needs of an elementary student from a kindergarten student.
Based on my own experience, I think there are at least three things parents should do to make the transition easier for a child. Elementary students are expected to be more independent than their pre-school counterparts. For children who have gone through pre-school with a lot of assistance from teachers, the higher expectations may not sink in right away.
Parents Need to Get the Right Information
First and foremost, parents must get the right information from the school with regards to style of teaching, schedules, rules and regulations, and just about anything else that is important for the child’s schooling. These information need to be passed on to the child in a way that he or she can understand. Schools usually hold meetings for parents of children who are just entering primary school. Attending these meetings and other school events will keep parents updated with what’s important.
Children need to know what they are expected to do in school so they will be guided accordingly. Talking with children before classes start will encourage them to ask questions that may be troubling their young minds about big school. The more open they are with their fears and doubts, the sooner issues can be resolved.
Parent-Child Practice
There may be skills that need to be practiced by children with their parents’ guidance. These may include further toilet training, eating alone, and being more responsible for school work and assignments. A routine should be established that will help them develop good habits like going to bed on schedule to get enough sleep and rest. The time for play and study must also be balanced.
Parents Need to be Part of Their Child’s Schooling
If there is one thing that I think has contributed in adding confidence to my children during this stage, it was my and my husband’s involvement with their school affairs. We became active in school activities that needed the assistance of parents. We were also there where we should be during their special presentations and milestones. The emotional stability that our presence brought is something which I believe carried them through.
Originally posted on September 27, 2013 @ 4:30 am
