Just yesterday, your child was taking their first step and now they’re getting ready to take on the next stage of their academic journey: primary education. If you want to make sure your little one is ready for this step, here are a few tips that can help. Aside from ensuring that your child knows how to count and use money, you want to talk to your child about assignments and homework too. This is also the time for your child to start interacting with more people and a bigger peer group.
Here are reminders to help your child adjust.
Talk About Expectations
What does your child expect about primary school? Buy a book to help your child understand what primary classes and school will be all about. Talk about what their day will be like. What are the subjects that they will cover? What skills will they learn in class? Talking about all that will help.
Encourage Questions
Make sure your child understands that they can ask you questions about anything. Is there something they don’t quite understand? Do they want to know more about their teachers and classes? Go over those questions and answer each one as patiently as you can, especially in cases when your child repeatedly asks questions. Don’t be annoyed as answering those questions will help put them at ease.
Reassure Them
Is your child anxious about the changes? That’s only natural. Reassure your child that they’ll do well in class, that they’ll learn. Don’t dismiss their fears. Motivate them instead. Tell them that you believe in them and even if the lessons are hard, that you know they’ll work hard to study them.
Talk About Making Friends
Is your child transferring to a new primary school? Then they’ll be afraid that they might not have any friends. Talk about how they can make new friends instead. Also, tell them that they can still contact and talk to their old friends. They don’t need to lose old friends because they’ve gained new ones. And if your child is sad because they might not be classmates with their best friends anymore, talk about the many ways they can stay connected and in touch.
Set Up Playdates
Your kid needs a support group. That’s why even when they don’t belong to the same class anymore, you’ll want to set up playdates with your child’s friends. That way, even when classes start, they’ll be assured and confident. They know their place in the world—at least right now. They have a sense of belongingness because they have friends and that makes a difference in how they move through the world, how they communicate with others.
Attend the Orientation Together
Many schools are holding online orientations. It wouldn’t hurt to attend that with your child. That way, if you or your child has any questions, you can bring it up during the orientation. Or, you can follow up with the teacher later. The orientation will help you and your child both prepare for school.
