Mental, emotional, cultural, cognitive, as well as physical development begin in the early childhood phase. So, it is essential for parents to offer challenging learning environments that encourage kids to learn systematically.
As parents, you are your kid's first and most valuable teachers. Children perform better and feel better regarding attending school when parents are more engaged in their school activities. Primary years are fundamental in your when it comes to your kid's growth and, as kids are about to return to the classroom, parents should already be preparing young learners for success.
Children may experience both excitement and anxiety as they get ready to go back to school. Many kids will be attending school for the first time, while some will be going to a new school or migrating from one, different situations will demand different plans. Whatever the situation is, returning to school and face to face classes may cause unnecessary stress, conflicting emotions, and for some, unanswered questions as they get back to school.
Some children are more prone than others to have difficulties going back to school for a number of reasons. Whatever your situation is right now, you can use our below-mentioned tips on preparing your child to go back to school.
So, without any delay, let's get straight into it!
1. Discuss “Going Back to School”
Start listening to your youngster today. Instead of teaching the dos and dont's of returning to school, engage with them in a conversation. You can begin by inquiring about how you feel at home, do you miss your classmates and teachers as well as their opinions and emotions regarding going back to school. Keep in mind that eye contact is essential. When speaking and listening to your kid, use wording that shows respect for their thoughts or feelings and assures them that you'll fight together to overcome any difficulties that may occur both before and after the school reopens.
Before using speech to express your own thoughts and concerns, let your kid finish talking first. While being careful about not overwhelming them with your own concerns, let them know what they must be careful of once they are back at school. Concerns about maintaining good hygiene, such as cleaning their hands before and after meals, coughing into their elbows, and talking to teachers about any learning challenges they have experienced while being on their vacations. Let them know that you care about them and despite the fact that you might not provide all of the solutions, you'll still be there for them when they encounter problems as they return to school.
2. Change At-Home Routines
Some weeks before school really opens, try to get into a basic routine. Have your kid wake up and go to bed at the same times as during the academic year? Your child will feel more at ease and adopt a routine easily if you stick to a stable sleep or bedtime and breakfast schedule while changing other things. Kids can be encouraged by charts or lists while forming routines. Some children can benefit from possessing a list of tasks they are supposed to complete each day, despite the misconception that "to-do lists are for adults". Designing a chart with requirements mentioned out or depicted in images can assist children in understanding responsibilities and planning their day.
Elements or images that can be inserted into the chart include making the bed, having a meal, brushing teeth, and grabbing their bag with their homework inside. This chart can be set up to display each day individually or by week. Your youngster can be aware and at ease with their morning and night routines by placing the duties in the morning to night order or even by creating a separate chart for each time of day.
3. Have a School Walk-Through
Take a short trip to your kid's school the day before it opens, if it is feasible, to show your children where their new classrooms are. They will feel less anxious about being lost if you follow the paths they will walk from their classroom to the cafeteria or the transport. The children missing home will also be aware that their parents are aware of their specific locations.
Help older children adjust to a new school (such as middle school, or high school) explore the campus, and give a demonstration of using a locker for them.
If your child is walking to school, or will be alone at any point in their journey, consider getting them a Personal Safety Alarm. This can give both you and your child peace of mind that they have an additional layer of safety when going back to school.
4. Make Their First Day Perfect
The process of getting ready for the first day of school does not begin on that day. Make a list of any questions you might have prior to the first day, especially if your kid will be joining a new institution. Many of your inquiries might be answered by visiting the institution's website though. Consult with your child's school two weeks before the school opens to learn who your child's new teacher will be and what supplies your child requires to perform the tasks. Make sure to attend the Opening Session if these details, updates, or news are not easily available.
Last but not least, if your child is attending a new school, talk to them about the successful endeavors and activities that have occurred in prior years at their new school. Let your youngster know that they won't be the only newcomer to the school on the first day. You could even want to practice with your child how to introduce themselves and interact with people on the first day of school.
5. Prepare for the Next Day
Making plans for the following day or the night before can help to avoid the morning rush. You might want to help or encourage your kid to get ready for tomorrow based on their age.
A time before night must be set up for your kid to prepare their school supplies, make sure their schoolwork is done, pack their lunch, and complete any other important tasks. You must also think about talking to your youngster while getting ready for the next day. During this time, you can interact with them to see whether everything is okay without asking questions.
Final Words
It's normal for kids and parents to be anxious about going back to school because it brings a lot of new experiences, such as new clothes, mates, teachers, and classrooms.
However, if the back-to-school preparation for students has been done before the significant first day, back to school can be a happy moment. Making preparations can help both the parent and the youngster feel less anxious. When handled properly, a new school, new teacher, new mates, and new experiences can lead to bigger smiles on your kid's face.