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| Preparing your child for Big School |
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Starting primary school is a big transition for children, and it is understandable for little ones to feel nervous or anxious. But there are many things you can do in the last few months leading up to the new school year to ease the worry.
Make it familiar
As well as attending orientation days, spending some time in and around the school will help immensely – whether that is extra classroom visits or simply a play in the park nearby. Orientation days are also a perfect opportunity to meet other families that will be starting school alongside you and for your child to meet other peers that they will share the classroom with. If they connect with any other children, try and organise a play date before they start school, so they already have a friend at school on their first day.
Another wonderful way to familiarise yourself with the school is to look through the school's website together – see pictures of all the fun activities that happen at the school and find a photograph of the new teacher, so your child gets to know a friendly face.
The new school uniform is always an exciting moment, so let your child try it on and wear it whenever they like in the run up to starting school, giving them a chance to see how it looks and feels.
They will also be excited to assist in choosing and packing any school essentials – covering books, and filling a pencil case. Lunchtime can also be a new and unnerving experience, so head out for a picnic with the new lunchbox to make sure they can open it themselves and are familiar with a typical lunchtime routine. As young children can often struggle with the concept of time, put the start into a context they can understand by writing it on a calendar on the wall, and cross of the days to the big day.
Start a routine early
Coming off the back of a long holiday, the adjustment to a new school is doubly hard. To avoid this, aim to set up a morning routine a few weeks prior to starting school to avoid any unnecessary first-day chaos and stress. Get up on time, get dressed, pack a bag – even if it is just to head out to the park for a play. Introduce a night-time routine at the same time – dinner, bath, brush teeth, read a book, and a regular lights out. The first few weeks of school can be exhausting for little ones, so having enough sleep and being on a consistent routine before it starts is a huge benefit.
The sudden shift to a structured day of a classroom environment can also be a big adjustment for young children, so try building some activity structure into your day – some craft activities, reading, as well as plenty of playtime together.
Help with school readiness
School readiness is about so much more than ABCs and counting, and there are plenty of things you can do to give them the confidence to step into the classroom. Enjoying reading books regularly with your child will ensure they are a part of everyday life, and events such as story time at the local library can expose them to sitting and listening to stories in a group environment. By getting excited about new discoveries and heading out on short discovery trips together, you can try to foster a love for learning that will stay with them for life.
Plenty of play dates with friends will also help make social situations less intimidating. In these situations, give them opportunities to experience taking turns, sharing and following rules, and giving positive reinforcement for appropriate behaviour, can also help them become used to a classroom environment. Boost your child's confidence by allowing them to make independent choices in day-to-day life – such as what to wear or packing snacks.
Communicate
Talk positively about starting school with your child and monitor their reaction, to see if they react with enthusiasm or anxiety. Give them as much detail and information as they want, talking to them in a meaningful way and giving them the time and support to verbalise their worries. Many young children find it hard to express their emotions, so give them the extra comfort and help in labelling their emotions. If you are concerned about your child becoming distressed on the first day of school, come up with a goodbye ritual beforehand, which might include a photograph of mummy and daddy to keep in her bag, to look at anytime she feels sad. It can take a few days to adjust, so allow more time in the mornings and work with the school to make the separation as smooth as possible.
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