Starting school can be a tough time for parents and children alike. Most kids are hesitant when it comes to going to a new place and seeing new people for the first time. Parents are also concerned about this aspect. When it comes to preparing kids for school, academic skills are not that important, compared to the social skills and emotional competence. Besides that, getting into a daily routine can also be a bit difficult at times. Especially for kids who don’t appreciate the idea of getting up early.
Some of the main skills that they need to learn include line up to go inside, interact with other kids and sit and listen to their teachers. Probably one of the most challenging tasks for some kids is being able to sit still and concentrate on what their teacher is saying, then replying back. However, all these skills can be easily “mastered” by any child.
- Take it Easy
When it comes to preparing kids for school, it is impossible to ask them to be ready for such a big change overnight. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you spend as much time as possible with them and encourage them for what’s coming next. Parents need to ask their kids about their feelings related to going to school, both concerns and excitement. Kids who seem truly scared about going to school are more likely to feel at ease when they are encouraged. Kids need to realise that a school is a place where they can have fun, make new friends and learn interesting things.
- Organise playdates
Another efficient way of making sure that your kids are going to have the best time once they start school is by organising playdates with their classmates. You can easily find out who their fellow pupils are going to be and you can organise a cute play date where they get to interact with each other and look forward to spending more time together. This way they can learn that other kids are also nervous about going to school. At the same time, creating supportive relationships with other families can also help a lot in this case.
- Pick the School Carefully
Even though this is common sense, a lot of parents don’t realise how big of an impact can have a certain school on the development of their child. Pick a school that both you and your child feel good about. You could also visit the school beforehand and see their new classroom or even meet their new teacher. The Southbank International School offers an international experience and qualifications that are recognised internationally. It provides academic excellence, lessons in more than 20 languages and a supportive classroom environment.
- Encourage Positive Behavior
Children need to be able to follow their teacher’s instructions, interact appropriately with other students and teachers and follow school rules. A simple way of encouraging positive behaviour is by rewarding it. Rewards don’t always have to be sweets or chocolate; they can be certain praise words, positive emotions, such as big smiles or hugs and stickers or special games. Last but not least, it is important to reassure your kids that nothing bad is going to happen at school.
These are just a few tips that parents could consider for their kids. The whole process is a challenging one, but not impossible.