The first time in a new place can be a challenging experience at any age. It certainly is even harder when you’re five! To help your child adjust to their new environment, we offer a few helpful tips to make it a positive experience.
Talk about it
Many adjustment difficulties for your youngster can be lessened simply by talking with them in the weeks prior to their first day at school. You can even make it an exciting adventure by counting down the days until their first day of school. Perhaps a calendar that they can check off themselves or a car ride to scout out this new place might help to calm tender nerves. Above all, if you affirm and offer your strength, they will agree that this is a great thing indeed.
Practice
If your child is not accustomed to being away from home or away from mom and dad, the weeks or months leading up to the first day of school are your training ground for healthy separation. This is your chance to share the little ones with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Play dates are another great way to get kids out of the house and spend time interacting with other children. We would be glad to set you up with the parents of children in your child’s class so that you can make arrangements to socialize. If you can create some positive social experience prior to the first day of school, your child will be ready when the day comes. Who knows, you may even make a new friend yourself!
Timing is everything
Finally, in the weeks leading up to school days you should start to adopt the same routines as your child will have when school starts. Rise and shine, dressed for school, and engaged for action, your child will find comfort in the familiar when school days come. You may even make your own school time at home! Try practicing writing your child’s name and age with them, or fun activities in areas they find interesting.
Above all, make sure it’s fun!
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