Pre-school is designed to ease children into the structured learning environment and routines of the formal school system. However, many children only attend pre-school on a part-time basis so the transition to full-time school can still be a bit of a shock.
No matter how well your child adapted to life in pre-school it is worth taking some time to prepare him or her for life at ‘big school'.
Before the first day
Talk to your child in advance of starting school and tell him/her where they will be going and what they will be doing. Talk openly about school and tell them stories about your most enjoyable moments at school.
Take your child to visit the school on a few occasions, don't just wait for orientation days. The school may have buddy and transition programs, If available, these services can be a great way of building confidence. Children can also find out where the important places are like:
- Their classroom
- Toilets
- Canteen
- Front Office
- A basketball court or play equipment
Remind your child that they'll make lots of new friends and find which of their current friends are starting at the same school. A few familiar faces may be very reassuring for your child.
First-day jobs for you
Arm yourself with information before your child starts to ensure you can deal with everything which comes up once school starts. Find out the obvious stuff:
- Start and finish times
- Teacher names
- Drop-off and pick-up locations
- Uniform store
- Is there a committee you can join?
- Sick / injury policies
- Staff contact and appointment policy
- Bullying policy
- Extracurricular activities offered
- Is there before and after school care and vacation care? If so, how do I enrol in these programs?
Helping in the transition
For many children, the biggest challenges when moving from pre-school to school are sitting still for long periods and completing tasks that require patience and concentration.
You might be able to help your child transition more easily into the school environment by practicing some things at home. Things like:
The ability to pay attention for extended periods
Reading is a great way of increasing your child's attention span. Take cues from your child as to how long he/she can pay attention. In the beginning, teachers may expect a child to attend a group activity for about 20 minutes, and by the end of the first year, this will increase to around 40 minutes.
The ability to focus on and complete assigned tasks
Introduce your child to new experiences for example attending a children's play or visiting your local museum. Provide guidelines so your child knows when it is appropriate to talk, go to the toilet, and when he/she has to wait for their turn.
The ability to work with rules and regulations
Give your child responsibilities at home. Start assigning chores for your child to complete independently such as setting the table, helping with the laundry, or unloading items from the dishwasher
Practice everything
Encourage your child to write new words, copy letters, and numbers, and draw pictures. Do some basic counting and measuring activities and show your child how these skills are used in the real world, for example, weigh the fruit when you go grocery shopping. Practice using the family computer or take your child to your local library and show your child some basic functions. Build your child's cooperation and team skills by playing games that involve taking turns.
Roleplay
Play school games with your child, pretend you are calling the roll, try on his/her uniform, write some pretend lessons up on a blackboard at home, or practice writing in a notebook.
As much as possible, offer your child natural opportunities to build skills that enhance his or her readiness for school and at the same time keep it fun.
On the first day
With all that preparation, the first day is bound to go smoothly. To make the first day even more special consider some of the following ideas:
Don't rush
Encourage your child to go to bed early so they can be up early and have enough time to get ready in a peaceful and relaxed fashion. A mad rush will be stressful for everyone.
Be prepared
Prepare a nutritious breakfast and pack lunch the night before so you don't have to think about it.
Take the time
Leave for school in plenty of time, if possible travel with your child by foot, car, or public transport and talk through any last concerns. Instead of a quick drop off, see your child into their classroom, put all of their gear somewhere, and find your child's teacher.
Saying goodbye
When it's time to say goodbye cuddle your child and in a bright voice explain that you are off and that you will see them later, then leave. Separation anxiety is normal for every child so make sure you are being considerate of leaving your child in a new environment.
Keep it quiet
Your child is bound to be tired from their first day, so head straight home for a special afternoon tea. Spend some time chatting with your child about the day before you launch into the evening routine.
Get Involved!
Remember, your child's school is part of your local community so if you have the time, try and get involved. Talk to your child's preschool teacher, other teachers, or staff, and see where you can help. Volunteer in working bees, do canteen duty, accompany the class on excursions, and try to attend sports days and fetes. Your child will find the transition to school easier if they know you're involved and taking an interest.
