Tips to prepare your child for school
Preparing your child for school could be an exciting time for you and your little ones. At the initial stage, it could be a little difficult for your child to settle in a new environment and schedule. But with proper encouragement, your child could easily adjust in a school regime.
We’ve complied a couple of useful tips for you, to ease the process of preparing your child for school:
Keep things simple, make school easier for your child
Starting in a new schedule can be daunting for your kid, so keep things simple without pressurising your child to learn new things. In the early preschools days, focus more on making your child comfortable in the new setting, helping him to express his new experiences. When you make your child feel school like play, your child is going to enjoy different learning activities.
Explain your child about his new schedule
Don’t expect your child to be all eager and happy to go to school. Going to school means a huge schedule change for your child, so it’s better to give your child a heads up on what his schedule would look like. Educate your child that he needs to go to school everyday, also highlight on activities he would love e.g. making new friends and doing cool activities, to prepare your child for starting school.
It’s OK, if your child doesn’t know to read and write
Your little ones may not know how to read and write and that’s totally OK. Every child is unique, few would learn alphabets and numbers quickly while others may take a little more time. Nonetheless, each child comes with special learning capabilities. There are trained teachers who are going to help your child develop and nurture their multiple talents, so relax.
Prepare your child emotionally ready for school
Change always brings mixed emotions. Your child is sure to go through a lot of different emotions, from excitement to sadness. Going to a school will need your child to mingle with fellow children, teachers and others, which is going to be different from staying at home. This change of setting is sure to trigger anxiety and overwhelm your child. Be supportive and help your child overcome this stressful times, so that he looks forward to school every day.
Familiarise him with the school and routine
Taking your child to the school premises and introducing him to teachers and other children, would make him aware and comfortable of his new surroundings. You could also help your child practice self-care activities e.g. opening the lunchbox, going to the washroom, and putting his clothes, these activities would help him cope with his new school environment when you are not around.
Things to avoid when your child is new at school
Talk endlessly about school
Talking a lot more about school related topics would overwhelm your child and make him hate school. Keep things casual, don’t overdo it. Let your child enjoy school.
If you are nervous, don’t show it
Your child is likely to pick up your anxiety. So even if you are anxious about his starting school, don’t show it.
Never talk negatively about school
Try not to make negative comments such as ‘I hate school’, ‘I don’t like going to school’, in front of your child, as he might start developing those feelings too.
