Transitioning from being at home with a parent to going to school is not an easy one, but it’s an important milestone for any child. If you have never sent your child to school in any capacity before, whether it’s nursery or childminder or a preschool, then it’s also going to be a big milestone for you as a parent. The transition can cause several mixed feelings because another adult will take on the primary care role of your child and it’s not something that you may be used to. It’s a step towards your child’s independence, which is an exciting and terrifying moment for a parent.
Every child and every parent reacts differently to this transition, and some children may not do this very well. Equally, it’s up to you as a parent to make sure that your child is as ready as possible to start school so that they feel able and equipped with the right tools that they need to succeed. Let’s take a look at how you can get your child ready for school.
1. Spend some time working with them. So far, does your child understand numbers and letters? Do they understand how to write their name? Would they be able to recognize an emergency symbol if they saw one? Along with number recognition with Begin Learning, you can help your child to learn how to spell their name, to even write their name, and to Start learning to read before they start school. This doesn’t just help them to get on the right foot when they Start learning to read and write in a formal capacity, but it also helps you to understand that feeling of reassurance when you know that they can recognise emergency symbols and signs when they need to. While there may be other adults in charge, you’re still going to want that element of control.
2. Get them familiar with the school environment. You can do this with social stories by looking at stories and videos on YouTube and on the Internet to show them what a school environment would look like. You can also contact the school of choice that they have gotten into and you can make sure that they are familiar with the actual environment of the school. Doing a tour can help them to feel like they are ready to start and excited to start.
3. Start working on their independence before their first day. This is mostly to do with self-care tasks. If they can learn how to put their own clothes on, how to put their own coat on, and how to open and close their own lunch box, your child’s going to be more independent. Let them practice peeling their fruits and opening food wrappers too. And if there are any items that they struggle with over the course of time before they start school, send those items unwrapped.
4. Be positive. If your child sees that you’re nervous about their first day, they’re going to feel nervous about their first day. If they see you excited and happy, then they’re going to feel excited and happy.
Leave a Reply