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Good things take time – John Wooden.
If you have a child there will come a day when you will need to make the important decision of sending your child to school.
In my previous blog post, Finding the right school for your child. I talked about the importance of choosing the right school for your child. Today we will focus on the first few days at school.
Tip 1 – Time to adjust
Give your child time to adjust to this new environment. Remember that everything will be new for your child in the first few days. They will need time to get to know everyone and to make friends. It is a good idea to send their comfort toy, blanket, dummy, or bottle to school. This will be familiar to them and bring comfort. Older children can bring a favourite toy to school.
If you like the teacher and are happy and comfortable with the school you have chosen for your child, your child will feel this way too. If your little one is tearful when you need to leave them be strong for your child it will make all the difference.
Listen to the teacher’s guidance in the first few days, remember she has been doing this for a long time. Give your child two weeks to settle in. If they are only attending school a few days a month it might take a little longer to adjust. At Bella Bee Playschool we take the adjustment of your child into consideration by offering 2/3 mornings a week at school. We also make the days shorter for your child in the beginning. Our focus is to help your child settle comfortably into our environment.
Tip 2 – Never been separated from you
If your child has always only been in your care or your husband’s care this will be a big adjustment for all of you. It would be wise to first prepare your child before sending them to school for the first time. This can be done by letting your child spend some time with their grandparents or your friends for short periods of time when you are not there. This will give your child the opportunity to learn that they are still safe and cared for in your absence. Once your child has got used to being in others’ care you can venture out and put them in school. The adjustment will be easier.
Tip 3 – Consider your child’s age
I have found the younger a child is when they start school (18 months) the easier it is for them to adjust. Especially if they are placed in a small group setting with individual attention. A mixed-age group works the best. Starting with 2/3 mornings a week works really well. Children at a young age enjoy interacting with other children. I find older children (4-5 years) take longer to adjust to the new routine at school. At Bella Bee Playschool our focus is on learning through play and a love for learning. Children learn much more when they are playing and having fun. Once a child has a love for learning it
will be with them throughout their life.
Tip 4 – Small Environments
Children adjust easier to a small group setting when they are starting school for the first time. The atmosphere is less intimidating and overwhelming. It feels safer, cosy and friendlier. It’s easier to connect and make friends with everyone. A little one quickly learns where everything is. A great deal of personal attention is given to children which gives children the opportunity to develop at their own pace and to master different skills necessary for Grade 1. Children are allowed to develop naturally. Self-confidence and social skills are developed. The teacher spends a great deal of time interacting with the children in the group on a daily basis this assists her to know a great deal about each child in her group. She is able to teach them values, social behaviour and healthy boundaries as well as guide a child in areas they need help to overcome obstacles. The teacher and parent become a team. The benefit is the child’s confidence blooms and they feel confident to learn to express themselves freely.
Tip 5 – Be emotionally strong for your child
Children are very sensitive to emotions. They quickly pick up on their parent’s insecurities. In the first few days of school, you will need to be emotionally strong for your little one. If they feel that you are happy with them going to school and you know this is the best place for them they will be happy to stay. That is why it is important to choose a school and teacher that you can relate to and are happy with from the beginning.
Your child’s first impression of school will be a lasting impression so make sure it is a wonderfully happy experience for them.
