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If a child has been primarily raised at home, and is not used to being in an institutional setting. The first day of school can be difficult. There are many ways to prepare a child (And a parent) for that big step toward growing up. Planning and openness play a part in making this transition smooth.
The first consideration should be the age of the child. 3 years old and toilet trained is usually the basic requirements for a preschool. Whether your child is ready at this point should be considered fully. Not all children develop at the same rate, and putting a child in a situation she/he is not ready for could be damaging. Some signs to look for that would indicate readiness are as follows:
Interacts with other children in games or imaginary play, not just parallel play
Is able to communicate needs verbally
Throws few tantrums, less than 3 a day.
Responds well to discipline. The child will sit in a time out and will return to play afterward.
The child is coordinated enough to run, jump, climb and play without constantly falling and getting injured.
The child has had success playing in environment where parent is not available.
A child that is 3 and 1/2 years old and has serious deficiencies in any of these areas should be evaluated by a professional for developmental difficulties. It is important to get help for a student who struggles due to the fact that there could be allergies, emotional issues, or even serious illness that cause delayed development and addressing the problem early will better facilitate success throughout the school years.
If you have determined your child is ready for preschool, and you have found a program that is interesting. It is time to get the child ready. Consider the goals of the program. For the most part preschool objectives include:
The child will learn how to be part of a group.
The child will paint with fingers and will participate in cleaning up materials
The child will listen to stories in a cooperative manner.
The child will participate in circle time and express themselves appropriately.
If your child will have success in the above objectives, chances are he/she will be successful in preschool. Many parents believe that preschool is more aggressively academic, and are disappointed that most time is spent playing. Preschool is geared toward getting children ready to operate as a group; this may help in deciding if a child is ready. It is not necessary to know letters, or write a name, because preschool only seeks to socialize and familiarize a child for school.
It is important to walk your child through the classroom or observe a class that is in session before enrolling the child. Ask if that is a possibility at your school. A chance to play at the playground, meet the teacher, or meet other children in the class may be offered through an open house experience. Bring your child to this event and allow him/her plenty of time to explore. After the event, encourage your child to talk about the school in a relaxed manner. Emphasize toys that appealed your preschooler’s tastes. Talk about activities that will be particularly fun. If the child associates positive thoughts with the school experience it is likely he/she will be less apprehensive about that first day.
When the first day arrives, make sure there is plenty of time to get ready, and there is no rushing around. Make the preparations as relaxed and soothing as possible. Find out beforehand if the teacher will allow a parent to stay for a period of time to acclimate the preschooler to this new situation. If it is necessary, stay with the child and help with the transition. This may include getting the child engaged, saying good-bye and leaving. It is okay to leave a preschooler who is crying if the parent knows this will be a short outburst. Often a parent will leave and check back 5 minutes later to find the child settled down and is enjoying the activity.
Sometimes parents will enroll a student in preschool a few weeks before the end of school, just to prepare them briefly for kindergarten. This situation is hard for the child because bonds have already been formed in the classroom, and the new child has a difficult time making friends and learning the routine. This may cause anegative first impression of school, rather than giving the child a chance to really get comfortable.
Sometimes the parent is the one that has the greatest separation anxiety, and that should also be a consideration in the process of sending a child to school There are many things to contemplate when getting the preshooler thoroughly prepared for the first day. If a parent takes the time to prepare, this can be a positive experience for everyone.
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