Remember how tough adjusting to childcare was? Hopefully, with these tips from our parenting partner Dr. Kaylene Henderson, you and your child can transition to primary school a bit easier.
Maybe the childcare adjustment was easy for you and your child, but primary school is a whole new, big, scary pond for your little fish. It’s new friends, a new location, a new educator and an abundance of other new things that your child is experiencing.
Dr. Kaylene has told us her five quick tips to help your child settle in at big school. The most important thing, according to Dr. Kaylene, is to familiarise your child as much as possible, with their new environment.
Firstly, Dr. Kaylene suggests visiting your child’s school and even their classroom ahead of time. This will help your child become familiar with their new space. It makes for one less unfamiliar thing on their first day. You can also point out to your child where they might like to sit and read, or where they would put their bag and lunchbox.
Some childcare centres offer great transition to school programs that take kinder-aged children on excursions to local schools. So your child might already be familiar with their new classroom. It doesn’t hurt for you to visit the classroom as well, so you can help your child navigate the space.
The new school might also hold orientation for new students and encourage parents to come along for the day as well. Help your child locate the toilets, the playground, or any other facility they might need access to.
Hopefully on these orientation days, you and your child will have a chance to meet their new teacher, to start building that trust and relationship as soon as possible.
Ideally, your child will know a familiar face on their first day. If not their teacher, maybe there is another child in their class that went to the same pre-school as them. It might be a good idea to ask other parents at your childcare centre which school their little one will be attending.
Secondly, Dr. Kaylene suggests continuing your preparation at home. A great way of doing this is to role-play with your child new challenges and situations they might face at big school. Situations such as - introducing themselves to new classmates, or popping their hand up to ask the teacher if they can go to the toilet.
Dr. Kaylene reminds us that children learn through play, and that is why role-playing new challenges can be a great learning experience for children. They will have an idea of what to do when the time comes.
Thirdly, Dr. Kaylene says that picture books are a great way for children to learn and understand about the changes they are about to experience. Children can have that bonding moment with you as you read to them, as well as gain an understanding of what it means to go to big school and be in a new learning environment.
Go a step further and ask your child to identify the emotions that come up during the story. “How is the wombat feeling on his first day of school?” or “What makes the wombat happy when he is at school?”
This can help your child understand the emotions they might feel at a new school and ease their worries. It can be a validating experience for your child, and help them make a smooth transition.
Fourthly, Dr. Kaylene suggests practicing all the little things your child now needs to know and do independently. Things like - opening food packets and lunchboxes, or refilling water bottles.
Making sure your child can do this independently, gives you as a parent confidence that your child can go through the day having eaten something and been able to fill up their water. It is one less thing for your child to ask the teacher for help with.
If your child is shy, they might not feel comfortable asking, so it’s a great idea if they can do it by themselves.
Lastly, Dr. Kaylene suggests keeping it positive! This is a big change for your little one, and they might already be really anxious. It’s best - regardless of your school experience - to tell your child how exciting big school is, how much they will learn, and all the fun activities they will get to engage with.
Dr. Kaylene says children are amazing at picking up how us adults are feeling. So if we are too anxious, or too sad about them starting school, they will be too!
To hear from our parenting partner Dr. Kaylene Henderson, watch the video here.
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