Monday, August 8, 2011
How to Get Your Little One Ready to Start Elementary School
Another school year is about to begin, and for many parents this will be the first time you send your little one off to school. It can be a time of anxiety because you don’t know how your child is going to cope. (And maybe you’re wondering about yourself as well.)
Here are 12 simple tips to help you assess whether you’re both ready for that big day:
Develop a love of reading. Take about 15 minutes a day to read together as a family, because your child needs to love reading to do well in school and life.
Establish good sleeping habits. If your family has been keeping late summer nights, you can gradually move bedtime toward 8:30. And set your alarm to wake up early enough to allow plenty of time to get your child ready for the day without rushing. Take a few trial runs on getting ready, so you know how much time is required.
Shop for new school clothes that your child can manage. It would be terribly embarrassing for your child to have an accident because he couldn’t get his clothes off fast enough to go to the bathroom. So, can your child handle tying shoes, zippers, snaps, and buttons?
Visit the school. Often, if you ask, you can visit on your own. Otherwise, use designated orientation times. Your child will feel more comfortable knowing where the classroom, the bathrooms, the lunchroom, and the office are located. Especially play on the playground if that’s allowed. If not, at least admire it and talk about how much fun it will be to play there.
Get acquainted with the office staff and teacher. Your child will learn better if he’s comfortable with his teacher. Speak positively about the new teacher by name. Encourage your child to draw a picture for him or her.
Practice “goodbyes”. If your child has been in daycare, this will be easier. If he hasn’t spent a lot of time away from you, it would be a good idea to practice goodbyes now. You can ask someone you trust to watch your child for you.
Let your child choose his own school supplies once you get the required list. It’s fun and exciting for your child to stash these treasures in his new backpack.
Speak positively about school. Even if you hated school, there must be one or two positive things you can say… like how fun music class was, or how great recess is. Your example matters a great deal.
Make sure your child has practical social skills. Your child needs to know how to share, wait in line, sit quietly, listen to instructions, wait his turn, say “please” and “thank you”, and be able to express his feelings in a polite way.
Practice repeating emergency information: Can your child recite his full name, his parents’ names, his address, and his telephone number?
If possible, meet other children that will be in his class for a play date before school begins. Talk to other parents in your neighborhood or the school may be able to connect you with the other parents.
Pick your child up on time. It would be best to arrive 15 minutes early. Nothing creates anxiety in your child more than being forgotten or thinking that he’s been forgotten.
As a parent, you know your child best. Thinking ahead to help your child fit into his new role will head off problems before they start. And that will make the first few days of elementary school a happy experience for both you and your child.
To give you more time to concentrate on these important things, our team of professionals at Simplify can cover the other necessary things around the home and help ease you and your Silicon Valley family into a new school year.
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