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Helping Your Children Start School

Soon some little children will be going through one of the most  traumatic days of their lives. On this day they will be dressed in a  uniform, taken to a new environment and left there in the care of  strangers. They will be expected to mix with other children who they  have never met, and do things that are different, new and challenging.  On top of all this, they will be observed, assessed, and tested, and  expected to conform to a far more rigorous disciplinary system than any  they have known before. Their freedom will be severely curtailed, and  they will be regimented, and timetabled, and given tasks and  assignments, and often told what to do from morning till afternoon.

Going to school is a massive change from the way we used to raise our  children.  For hundreds of thousands of years most children spent all  day, every day with their family and community.  As recently as fifty  years ago parenting was viewed as a full time occupation - at least till  the age of five. However schools are increasingly taking children at  younger and younger ages, and children spend far less time with their  parents and family.

This month many little children will start  school for the first time, and whether they are starting nursery,  kindergarten or first grade, the new setting and the new experience is  likely to be stressful. However there are things that parents and  families can do to help their children make a successful change.

Before the new school year begins, Parents should talk with their child  about the changes in the daily routine. They should encourage the child  to describe how they feel about starting a new program or school and  try to ease any fears they may have.

In the days and weeks  before school starts, parents can help their child ease into the new  environment and adjust to the new routine. With the more enlightened  schools they can arrange to visit the school and classroom with their  child, and, if possible, meet her teacher. This will help the child  become comfortable in the new environment with her parent beside her.

It is a good idea to get the child used to the school-year bedtime and  morning routine a few days early. This may prevent her from being  confused, groggy, or cranky on the first day of school. If possible the  parent could arrange a play date with another child from her class,  preferably one-on-one, so that she knows someone in her class and will  be more comfortable.

For the first few days arrive at the new  school early - to give her time to settle in. Use the time traveling to  school together, or waiting at the bus stop, to talk about what she can  expect that day.  The parent should always say good-bye, and let her  know that she will be met at the end of the day. The child will have an  easier time with separation if she’s confident the parent will return to  pick her up.

Don’t forget to prepare yourself.  Leaving your  ‘baby’ and walking away from the school is a very traumatic experience  for most.   Be brave - and take lots of hankies.

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