Do you recall how you felt on the first day of school? A few students are anxious, some feel ecstatic, some are hesitant and some simply don't want to go to school. Many people contend that the first few days are difficult because there is an abundance of thoughts to process while you juggle with them in your mind. Being receptive to change or when a fresh chapter begins in our life makes us uneasy all the time.
Similar emotions are experienced by a child starting kindergarten as they are stepping into an unfamiliar world. Parents feel anxious since they are experiencing this for the first time as well.
Children are sent to play school by their parents to instill in them a habit of attending school. But as a child transitions from playschool to school, there is a significant change that takes place. A play school is a fun approach to teaching children the fundamentals, but when a child joins the school, the routine changes, rules are introduced, and help is restricted. Not just this, even the studying pattern changes, tolerance levels are raised, and disciplined behavior is adapted, says Rutika Khandol, Psychologist, Mpower.
However, the following suggestions from ABWA, one of the best international schools in Mumbai, will assist parents in preparing their children for the first phase of childhood.
So how to prepare your child for new beginnings?
Break the pattern -
According to Sonam Chandnani, Psychologist, Mpower, in a play school setting, children are helped to use the washroom, have meals, and pack their bags but when they enter the school they are supposed to do these chores on their own. This transformation will require certain practice before they join the school. Hence, parents can form a routine for their children and prepare them to follow. A timetable that includes waking up and sleeping early, having meals on time, and setting aside time to play and read. These basic habits if included in the routine can make the kids adapt to the change quickly.
Sitting tolerance -
Before starting school, a child enjoys a free-flowing life and doesn't typically sit still and keeps running from place to place. Currently, life is enjoyable for children, but once they enter school, they must spend a lot of time sitting still while the teacher teaches the class. A child finds it challenging to deal with this because they are not used to it. They will be better prepared for school if you establish a modest habit at home where you instruct a child to sit still for 5 or 10 minutes and then praise them for it.
Pretend play -
To assist your child get acclimated to the idea of preschool, engage them in pretend play. Act out various routines, such as story time, song time, reading time, and drawing time. You may even reverse the roles and make your kid the teacher. This will lessen worry on the first day of school and help your youngster see school as a happy place, says, Neeti Vaidya, Psychologist, Mpower.
Shopping spree -
School shopping has a delightful, even mystical quality. Let your child choose a new water bottle, lunch box, backpack, stationery, and art materials. This may be a technique to get your child excited about entering school if they are anxious or hesitant about it.
Introducing independence -
Before school, children are helped by their parents, household help, and helper at play school. When they go to school, they have the teachers to their support but are required to do their daily chores on their own. Parents need to take a step back and let their children start doing things on their own. Let them pack their bags, learn to wear socks and shoes, fill their water bottle, and eat meals on their own.
Develop basic social skills -
You must have noticed how the child constantly tries different things in social situations. They will interact, laugh, fight, play, and weep. Once the child is used to this milieu, adjusting to a new social environment will be simpler. Involving your child in group activities will help to bring out the best in them. Let your child be a part of the craft sessions, dancing, musical chair, choir singing, and treasure hunt where a group setting is involved.
Familiarise with basic concepts -
The studying pattern changes from play school to school. The concept at schools is more of a disciplined and formal one. Introduce your child to fundamental concepts that they will encounter in LKG, such as numbers, letters, shapes, and colors. Play educational games that involve counting objects, identifying letters, or matching shapes. This familiarity will make it easy for them to understand these concepts in school. At the same time, they need to be told that they need to sit in a proper posture to study and this will get them habituated with the school-like studying pattern.
Tell your story -
Inform your child of your feelings on the first day of school, how you made friends, how much your teachers appreciated you, how you began to like going to school, how you created memories, and how you enjoyed taking part in school events. To inspire your child, show them class portraits from your kindergarten years and the ones when you passed out to make them feel happy.
Let the child express -
Allow the child to bring out their emotions, including crying, grumbling, and aggression, if they are unable to manage them. This will enable them to adjust to the new environment and begin to handle it gradually. The problem will only get worse if you push your child to act normally and quickly adapt to the new environment. We should give children time to figure out similar to how grownups conduct themselves.
A visit to the school -
A visit to the school will make the child become comfortable with the surroundings, classrooms, and teachers so that they are not unfamiliar to them on the first day, much like familiarising the child with practice to get ready and get into a daily routine. Before starting school, the child needs to feel secure and at ease.
Beginning preschool is a significant milestone for both you and your child. The adjustment to learning to spend time apart can be challenging, but starting the formal learning process is also thrilling. If the recommendation is applied consistently, the child will progressively benefit. Many youngsters confront various difficulties as they develop, but minor training has the potential to help their development in the years to come. Focusing on their social, emotional, and cognitive development, you can lay a strong foundation for their future academic success. Remember, each child is unique and will progress at their own pace. Celebrate their achievements and provide a nurturing environment that fosters a love for learning. With your guidance and support, your child will embark on their educational journey with confidence and enthusiasm.
