Your child’s transition from half-day preschool or kindergarten to all-day elementary is a big step. When your kids started school this Fall you may have noticed flashes of anxiety in them as well yourself. As parents, we desire to see our kids grow academically, while our kids maybe nervous and excited at the same time to be spending most of school day away from home.
Having a new teacher, unfamiliar classmates and new surroundings are always a challenge. All of these combined for the first time in elementary school can be terrifying. The transition from half days into full days may be difficult at first. If the nerves continues to persist, there are a few things you can do to make sure their kids have an easy transition into a full-time student.
Give them the unconditional love and support they need in addition to these tips.
Plenty of Sleep
Make sure your kids get enough sleep with an early bedtime before the big day.
For kids that tend to be night owls, gradually set bedtime a few minutes earlier each evening, this will make a smoother transition to earlier bedtimes, and earlier mornings once school starts.
If your kid struggles getting to sleep try some different relaxation techniques like the sounds of running water and breathing exercises.
Health Checklist
Schools generally require children to have vaccinations before attending classes. It is wise to research the school’s requirements for immunizations and make sure you know what to expect.
Likewise, Dr. Brian Yim suggests you consider scheduling any needed dental appointments in the months after school starts. Booking medical a little later in the year will allow you to have all health requirements in place without compounding stress from adjusting to the start of school.
Make sure your kids feel like they are used to the schedule and the daily rigors of school before going to visit a Hamilton Family Dentist or the doctor. Talk to your kid about the importance of staying healthy and why these check ups are necessary. When you answer any questions they might have, you can ease their fears going in.
Give Them Time Alone
In these first few months you might feel like you want to hover and protect your kids from everything a new school brings to their life, but find a way to resist giving them too much reliance on you to fix things.
Make sure they have time to themselves and a chance to work out their own problems or worries about school. Maybe they find that bringing a favorite toy with them in their backpack eases fears about recess or making new friends. Give them a chance to be themselves and find solutions to their own troubles.
Encourage
Children may be fearful of a new teacher, a new way of doing things or even new classmates. You can help reduce your child’s fears by talking with and
encouraging them to talk about their concerns.
Open up about school and help them understand it’s okay to be scared at times. Make sure they know they can talk to you about anything going on in their lives.
Finally, parents can make school seem like an exciting adventure simply waiting to be discovered. Talk about what they are learning and see if you can add to any of the lessons by going to museums, planetariums, gardens or other places. Share stories about your own days in elementary and soon they’ll be getting into the routine in no time.
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