Overcoming First Day At School Fears

Aug 8, 2009 Author: admin | Filed under: Education

Talk to your child

Your child will probably be anxious about what to expect on the first day at school.
If so, one way of helping them is to talk through their fears:

Explain where they’ll be going, what they’ll be doing, and for how long.
Answer questions, and work through any fears by asking what they think the school might be like.
Emphasise the things they may enjoy doing.
Don’t dismiss your child’s fears – things that seem obvious or silly to an adult can seem overwhelming to a five year old.

Building on practical skills

Make sure your child has a good idea of what school is going to be like. If they have already experienced learning activities at home and in other settings, they’re less likely to find the experience stressful. Role playing, games and reading at home can help your child get into the right frame of mind and boost their confidence.
Activities for your child could include:

Playing games that involve taking turns or speaking in front of a group
Playing with children of a similar age to develop social skills
Reading books about starting school
Using your child’s favourite toys to role-play going to school
Painting and drawing, which involve sitting down for short periods of time

In the weeks before school

Allow your child to choose things they need for school such as school bags or uniforms
Visit the school with your child so they become familiar with the building and the local area
Some schools have arrangements to support your child’s transition into school which you may want to enquire about
Discuss with them what might be happening at school at different times of the day

Just a little preparation can make a big difference – your child will soon settle in to their new routine.

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