13 Jan Helping children to start school
The anticipation, excitement, nervousness and bittersweet feelings that arise when children start school for the first time! Here are some things to think about for this process.
Attending to practicalities is important. Make sure you prepare, in good time, with things like school uniforms, bag, hat, lunch box, stationery etc.
It’s helpful for children know what’s ahead and what to expect. Also, knowing where the important places in their new school are and how to get there, such as their classroom, the toilets, and where you will pick them up after school. If you haven’t already got one, start setting up the morning routine in advance of the first day of school.
In the lead up to the first day of school, allow your child’s excitement about school evolve naturally. It won’t be necessary to “get them excited” because they know it’s coming, and children are typically excited and looking forward to going to school for the first time.
If a child is nervous about going to school, it’s important to know that nervousness is entirely normal. It is also important to not try to hurry them out of their feelings. If too much attention is deflected away from their nervousness, this can sometimes make the nervousness worse – as if the nervousness is something to be scared of, rather than simply experienced. Simply experiencing their nervousness, in the presence of a calm and relaxed adult can be really help children learn to tolerate these uncomfortable feelings and build resilience.
So, unlike formal skill-building, where we teach children what to do, this is actually a “sitting-with”, less-is-more approach that relies on the parents being a calm, listening and relaxed in the process.
Remember that it’s very natural and normal to feel apprehensive – so, rather than worrying about potential bumps and problems, know that navigating and riding through the bumps is what creates resilience. Your calm and confident approach will help hold your child as they navigate these difficulties.
Also, remember, to try to find time for some parent self-care in this process! So that you can remain calm and confident for your child, remember to look after yourself, so that you are best placed to look after your child.
If your child is struggling or if their fear goes beyond the usual nervous anticipation of something new, you may want to consider seeing one of the child psychologists at Prosper Health Collective for some extra support. These types of problems are best dealt with sooner rather than later before they become entrenched and more difficult to overcome.
I hope your child’s school journey gets off to a great start.
