IT IS NOW the time of the year where every parent with young children is on alert mode. New schools, buying new school uniforms, all sorts of notebooks, pencils, crayons, bags decorated with the latest cartoon figures, and also not forgetting new shoes that they grow out of very fast, all items on the main to-do list on the very first week of school.
However, the parents that suffer most are the ones getting their kids ready for school for the very first time. Many parents at this stage ask themselves how to prepare their children for this huge step in their young lives. Usually it’s their first child and they will be seeking all the advice they can get on the matter.
Once they have chosen the right school, the proper step to follow is paying a visit to the school to become familiar with its grounds, surroundings and teachers. Then parents should talk to their kids, and prepare them on what to expect on their first day.
They should start by describing the scenario of the day: the children they are going to see, what will they do on the first day, and what are they going to eat for snacks. This can ease a lot of pressure off their little confused and wondering minds. A child who understands the structure of a day at school is much better equipped than the one thrown into the deep of a new experience with only small encouraging words and no explanations.
It is also a good idea to remember asking the school principal or class teacher for the names of children starting school at the same time. Asking the children about new friends they made and mentioning their names will get them exited and will let them feel that you are involved in their experience.
Talk to the children on the way to school to avoid the buildup of tension. Chat with them about the new school and the things they will be doing there. Describe the great time they will have and some of the exciting things they will learn about.
Arm your children with good social manners that will enable them to make friends and to interact gracefully with their schoolmates and teachers. This way the school will not be a roomful of strangers and the child can build a healthy relationship with his environment.
It is very important for parents to help their children prepare for the transition in this exciting and memorable phase of their lives. It is by far one of the major and most frightening challenges children have to face in their early childhood.
Making them feel that you are sharing this experience with them, can give kids a lot of self-confidence that they will need in their life journey.
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