For many parents, having their child start school is a memorable milestone, but often parents have mixed feelings -- anticipation, excitement, anxiety, and sadness. Young children often manage emotional situations by observing how their parents deal with these events. Consider the following tips to help you and your kindergartner ease into the school year in a healthy way.
1. Visit the school- plan a few “field trips” to the school such as the week before school starts. This allows your child to become familiar with the route to school and school environment. If possible, allow your child to play on the school’s playground equipment as well as visit the front office.
2. Attend open house- this provides your child with an opportunity to meet his or her teacher and learn about what happens during the school day. Knowing what to expect is an important way to ease anxiety.
3. Read about it- You can also obtain books about school life to help prepare your new “student.”
4. “Tears” are not uncommon during the transition of starting school and parents should look to teachers to comfort their children. Usually, the child’s crying stops soon after the parent leaves. Teachers are trained to assist children with transitioning. Therefore, it is important not to linger when saying goodbye. It is better for both you and your child if you briefly provide reassurance that he/she will have a good day and that you will see him/her at the end of the day.
5. If crying continues for more than a few days, a few items in your child’s backpack may be helpful in assisting him/her with the transition, such as photos of the family or parents.
6. Know when to seek help- Most children adjust well to the start of school. If you become concerned that your child is having difficulty adjusting to school as evidenced by him or her having more extreme reactions or problems that last for an extended period, seek professional help. Discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher, the school guidance counselor, social worker, and/or school psychologist. It may also be helpful to consult with a clinical psychologist who is trained to help children overcome these problems.
For more information on helping children of all ages transition into the school environment, link onto the article below published by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
http://www.nasponline.org/resources/home_school/b2shandout.aspx
or the article below published by Newswise Medical News
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/554529
Other Helpful Resources include:
Parent Information Center:
http://www.parentinformationcenter.org/
APA Help Center from the American Psychological Association:
http://www.apahelpcenter.org/
