Preparing your child for the first day in school

(In future this may once again be a possibility. There is talk about admitting a child to school when she/ he is older though. I had written this in 2016.)

Most album pictures of a child’s first day in school show a teary-eyed child dressed in a brand new uniform. This in turn may make us ponder as to why a child may find the first day in school terrifying.

It is but natural for a child to have reservations about the first day in school. Psychologist Chrisann Almeida says, “Children who attend preschool from an early age are less likely to feel petrified of the first day in school. Otherwise, separation anxiety from the parents is quite natural on this day.”

 

A child perhaps may be prepared to look forward to the first day of school instead of being phobic of it. Psychiatrist Dr.Dayal Mirchandani says, “Tell your child that school is a fun place to be where she/ he will learn new things and make new friends. Compliment her/ him that now that she/ he is a big girl/ boy, she/ he is ready to go to school.”

Chrisann adds, “One can take their child to visit the school beforehand to familiarise them with the place. You may drive around the school compound and if prior access to the classroom is allowed, let your child explore and observe the classroom and interact with the kids. This helps to introduce them to the classmates and teacher before starting school so that they're not totally amidst strangers.”

 

If the parent threatens the child by referring to school, she/ he may develop a phobia for it. Chrisann says, “School or teachers should never be used as a threat or as a punishment. A parent should never say that he/ she will complain to the teacher or send the child to school if he/ she is bad.”

 

When parents drop the child at school on the first day, they need to say goodbye to him in a manner that doesn’t make her/ him think that they are deserting her/ him forever. Chrisann advises, “Bid her/ him the same kind of goodbye that you have said when you are going to work or shopping. Do not sneak out or hide when leaving, it just makes it harder for kids to deal with the situation. Don't linger either as it adds to the confusion. Your goodbye ritual should be a kiss and a wave followed by the comment, ‘see you later and have a nice day’.  A combination of verbal and non-verbal actions works well.”

Also, make sure to choose a school that teaches through fun and games. If you enrol your child into a strict school that has a dry textbook curriculum and metes out corporal punishment; she/ he will hate school instead of loving it.

#school, #education, #kids, #children, #parenting, #classmates, #parents, #mother, #father, #tinytots

https://pixabay.com/photos/blackboard-chalkboard-board-3946404/: Image by bluebudgie from Pixabay