Think about whether your expectations as a parent are realistic, if not somehow exaggerated? – psychologist Mihai Copăceanu asks parents in a short guide for the beginning of school. And World Vision has prepared a similar guide for children starting kindergarten.
The start of school comes with important questions for parents. PHOTO: Pixabay
We are a few days away from the start of school and parents’ concerns are becoming more and more visible.
Psychologist Mihai Copăceanu posted on Facebook a short guide to preparing children for school.
“The child needs time to adapt to the new school year, especially after the summer vacation, when he had a different daily schedule (or no schedule), other hours of sleep and did not put in cognitive effort, nor did he have a structure and a discipline, he had a lot of free time. Adaptation may take several weeks” – explained the psychologist.
He listed some ways parents can help their child succeed in adjusting to the school schedule:
1. Help him establish a study routine
Decide together, early on, a time when daily homework can be completed. For most, this will be right after school while they are still in the mood to study. Others may need time off after school and do homework a little later. Once a schedule is decided, it’s important that your children stick to it, even if they don’t feel like it.
2. Encourage independence
Communicating with your child about school expectations is essential, as is taking responsibility for your own learning. Encourage your child to ask the teacher for help or to brainstorm their own solutions to any school-related problems. Rather than telling them what to do, you’ll encourage their independence and really help them succeed in school. Help him focus more on building good habits like time management, organization, rather than just focusing on grades.
3. Think about whether your expectations as a parent are realistic, if they’re not overkill and if you’re putting too much pressure on him this year? I always say it: do you want a happy child with above average grades or a child with very high grades but stressed, angry and unhappy. The process of education is more important than some grades in the catalog, which many times the student gets to please his parents and in some situations he cheats, copies just to get those grades and please yourself.
4. Be aware of what is happening
Ask indirectly about the child’s school life. Start by regularly checking their school notebooks to make sure they are marking their assignments correctly and to see if there are any important comments from their teachers. Talking to your children about how they feel at school every day is also a great idea.
Ask them about how they perceive their workload, upcoming tests and exams, and how their classes are going in general. This will really indicate if the child needs extra help. And talking to the educator, teacher or director is also important and responsible.
5. Help your child set goals
Goal setting is an important skill that can really help kids stay focused, motivated, and productive, especially as they start a new school year.
Take the time to sit down with your child to identify some educational goals and put a plan in place to achieve them for the next few months. Encourage them to pick two or three goals to focus on, help them set a deadline, and break down their goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. This should help them feel much more inspired and excited to do their best to succeed in school.
6. Make your home a pleasant and useful environment.
The child’s room is very important, there is his emotional, affective, imaginary, personal universe, it is the most expensive place for him, where he feels good or may refuse to return. It is the seat of his intimate thoughts and can be arranged in a pleasant way. Ask him how you want to redecorate it, what new furniture, what colors he wants. Sometimes with small financial efforts miracles can happen and children can be so happy about their renovated room.
7. Demonstrate a positive attitude towards education
By showing children that you value education and use it in everyday life, this provides strong role models and contributes greatly to their success in school. This is especially true when a new year begins, when everything feels new and scary, which means that having someone at home who demonstrates a positive attitude will help it feel more exciting and useful.
“In fact, taking an active and positive interest in your children’s education can really help spark enthusiasm and lead them to a very important understanding – that learning can be enjoyable, but also rewarding and worth the effort“, concluded the psychologist. He stated that the article was adapted from several sources namely Rugby School Thailand, world-schools.com tutordoctor.co.uk and ascd.org.
How do I prepare my child for the first day of kindergarten?
World Vision Romania, an organization that carries out education, emergency humanitarian intervention, development and advocacy programs, putting the well-being of the child at the center of its activity, has created a guide that teaches us how to prepare our children for the first day of kindergarten.
Thus begins said guide: “Even if saying goodbye in the morning is hard, know that in those hours spent in kindergarten, your children learn to socialize, share, discover and create. They make new friends, develop their imagination and skills, and above all, they will always have the warm and open arms of the educational ladies at hand. With each passing day, they become more adaptable and ready for the adventures to come. With all love and trust, O lady educator!”
Starting kindergarten is by far the most important stage of socialization, as children are at that point in their lives when they begin to explore and understand relationships with other children and develop communication skills.
A good start at this time helps children see the world as a pleasant and interesting place, and other people and relationships with them as beautiful, necessary and funny. Often, separation from the warm and familiar home can bring with it a lot of feelings, from curiosity and excitement to fear of the unknown.
“Ultimately, it is a first test of confidence and independence, a time when the child begins its journey into the wider world, and the parent must find the balance between protection and encouragement. That’s why preparation is essential—not only so that your little one feels safe in a new environment, but also so that you, as a family, can take this step together with confidence and optimism“, the guide also states.
Kindergarten – more than just a playground
Kindergarten is not only a place where children play, but represents an important stage in their development. Here, the little ones form their first essential skills for life, in a safe and well-structured environment.
During the activities carried out at the kindergarten, the children:
• Discover what they are passionate about and what they really like;
• They learn by playing, experiencing new things and exploring the world around them;
• They improve their communication skills and learn how to interact with others;
• They develop their emotional intelligence, learning to manage their own feelings, but also to understand those of those around them;
• They are gradually preparing for the big step to school.
Educational resources
An essential element in this stage of the child’s development is the educational resources. Carefully selected materials such as educational toys, books, interactive games and art tools. Not only do they make learning more enjoyable and fun, but they also make it easier to understand more complex concepts through play. Thus, children can explore and develop their potential in a natural and creative way.
As part of the “Start in Education” project, the largest early education program in Romania, run by World Vision Romania in partnership with the OMV Petrom Foundation, 1,500 kindergartens have 1,500 kindergartens received ABC Gradi kits, which include didactic materials for the development psycho-motor and cognitive skills.
Also, 120,000 preschoolers received a “Ghiozdănel with the future”, a complete package with supplies, books, workbooks, STEAM educational materials, games for motor development and personal hygiene products.
Getting your child ready for kindergarten can seem like a challenge, but with a little planning and patience, it can be an enjoyable experience for both the little one and the parents.
“Talk openly with your child”
Here are some suggestions that can help make the transition easier:
1. Talk openly with your child: Explain what will happen when kindergarten starts. Tell them about the interesting activities, the friendships that can be formed and the beautiful things that they will discover there.
2. Reassure him you’ll be back: One of the biggest fears children have when they start kindergarten is the fear of abandonment. Remind him that you will always come to pick him up at the appointed time and that it is important for him to trust that you will be there for him.
3. Visit the kindergarten together before starting to allow them to familiarize themselves with the new environment and meet the teachers. This can reduce anxiety and give her a sense of control.
4. Establish a routine: Begin to introduce regular activities into your daily routine, such as waking up at a fixed time and other personal hygiene habits. This will help him adjust to the kindergarten schedule more easily.
5. Practice daily activities: Learn with your child how to dress himself, how to tie his shoelaces, or other self-care activities. This not only develops his independence, but helps him feel more confident in his own abilities.
6. Adopt a positive attitude: Children are very sensitive to their parents’ emotions. If you are calm and enthusiastic, the child will perceive kindergarten as a positive opportunity and will be more open to this experience.
7. Involve other family members: In the first few weeks, the presence of other family members can be very helpful. They can provide emotional support and help make the transition easier, especially if separation from parents is difficult for the child.
Proper preparation and a smooth transition can make your child’s first kindergarten experience a positive and successful one (for more helpful information and detailed suggestions, see PARENTS’ GUIDE TO EARLY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 6).
Early education plays a critical role in a child’s future development, having a profound impact on both their immediate cognitive and social skills as well as their long-term educational and professional success.
