Before school starts, students and their parents are usually given advice. This really is very important — the daily routine changes, the circle of people the child and the parent interact with changes, and the tasks that need to be handled every day change too.
I wrote this text with recommendations for parents and schoolchildren a couple of years ago, and it turned out to be useful:
The first of September is approaching, and it's often more worrying for parents of first-graders than for the children themselves. That's completely understandable, since school is a huge step, a huge change in the life of a child and the whole family.
What can parents do in this situation?
Uncertainty and lack of confidence give rise to anxiety, so it's important to approach the upcoming event positively. If you can manage your own feelings, your child will learn to do the same by watching you.
Children need to feel that they're allowed to express their emotions and to talk about how they're feeling.
Children experience stress with any significant change in their way of life. If you already have older children in school, that doesn't mean every first-grader's experience will be the same, even among siblings.
These tips will help you move more smoothly into this new stage of life:
1. Talk about the school rules, about the schedule, and play a “what do you do if” game: needing to ask the teacher a question, needing the bathroom, wanting to eat or drink, being picked up late after class.
2. Align your daily routine with the school schedule — wake-up time, breakfast, and what happens after school — activities, playtime.
3. Attach name tags to your child's belongings together with them. Children often lose or mix up their things, so this will make it easier for them to find their own.
4. Kids look very smart in new clothes and shoes, but try to have them wear new shoes ahead of time so your child can break them in.
5. Create a “special goodbye” — a special handshake, a hug, and a kiss. One mother would “tuck” kisses into her child's pocket so they could be taken out later if the child felt sad.
6. Plan ahead what you'll be doing once your child starts school. If you have someone you can share your feelings with, do it. Support other family members for whom the start of this new period may also be a challenge.
7. Remember, in most cases there may be tears and strong feelings from everyone involved. This is part of the process of adjusting and doesn't always mean something is wrong.
As with all of life's challenges, it's important for us to understand the individuality of each person involved in order to move forward in the best way.
Wishing you every success in getting through all of life's stages!
But there's another side involved in education — the teachers. Solving the problems of every student and of the whole class, being compassionate and understanding while also keeping the situation under control — every day brings many stressful moments, not only for students, but for teachers as well. Don't forget to take care of yourselves, dear teachers! Walks, time in quiet nature, sports, hobbies, and, above all, getting enough sleep. Wishing teachers and students a good and fruitful school year!
