In two weeks, Sandra will start First Primary. She checks the new kits over and over to see if she has included everything she needs, asks her parents thousands of questions about what they will teach her, and… she has nightmares too! The ones that distress him the most are two: one in which he forgets to put on his shoes on the first day of class and the other in which, upon arriving at school, he does not recognize any child. Sandra has a high sense of perfection and responsibility , she is shy and her greatest fear is to make mistakes , that things will not turn out as expected … Her parents, although they trust that their daughter will know how to face new intellectual challenges, do not they are so sure that you do not feel insecure in front of your peers or that you are able to achieve a good harmony based on mutual trust with the teachers.
The paper of the parents
It is common that, as parents, we also perceive some concern at the beginning of classes . That we wonder if our son will be well received by his classmates, if he will miss us, or that we doubt if he will be able to adapt to the new rhythm. These doubts, however, are usually assuaged when we transmit peace of mind to our children, when we show them that we trust them, that they will be able to put their skills to work. At least, this is what the parents of Carlos (6 years old) and Marina (10 years old) learned. They were concerned, among other issues, that their children could not keep up with a demanding pace as required by school, so they thought that if they were thoroughly prepared to face the adaptation of the first days positively, everything would go smoothly.
The strategy that worked best for them was to explain to them that they were growing up and that, like all children their age, they would learn interesting and fun things , and that a good way to take advantage of them was to imagine that each new learning was an adventure where the point was to find the magic door of the exit. To their surprise, Carlos and Marina’s parents realized that, as they had a more creative dialogue with their children, with a positive and joyful attitude, they also felt more confident and sure that their children would be able to face new challenges using all your skills and talents.
Manage anxiety
Good communication is the best guide to help a child overcome the anxiety caused by starting a change in his life. Therefore, it does not hurt to carry out some strategies a few days before the start of classes, such as giving them a greater role when choosing those things that they will need throughout the course , such as pencils, pencil sharpeners, fun colored erasers … Or buy the backpack together, or the sneakers. Anyway, we do not have to forget to recycle the supplies that were left over from the previous year. No need to spend on new things when some of them are still usable.
To help the child see what the past year can be worth, you can prepare colored boxes to put at hand those things that still work, even if they are not taken to school. It’s about turning the first day of school into a fun event and not one that has put too much pressure on a little one.
In some cases, it may be interesting to stop by the school a few days before to see how it is, if its environment has undergone any changes, if it has been painted in another color …
If your child is less than six years old, it is advisable to avoid constantly asking him if he is happy to go to classes, if he likes school, if he already knows his teacher, or asking other insistent questions that tend to mislead and confuse them. It is also important that friends and family do not insist too much on the topic of starting classes and pressure them with expensive gifts.
From the night before the big day
Carlos is 9 years old. Her mother has posted an activity schedule on the board in her room. Carlos wishes that the day of starting school does not come and everything that awaits him when he leaves it: two days tennis, one religion, two piano, and after piano, English …
Sometimes it pays to wait a couple of weeks to include extracurricular activities in your regular schedule . It is even wise the night before to prepare the child’s clothes once they have gone to bed, to avoid stressful situations. On the other hand, as your child will surely get up at a different time than usual, it is necessary that he falls asleep early to get enough rest. It is not necessary to insist over and over again that the next day you will go to school for the first time, it is enough that you keep it in mind.
In the morning, it will undoubtedly be a day full of emotions, in which everything will be perceived differently: the clothes you wear (especially if you are wearing a uniform), the faces you see, the activities you do …
During the first day, and perhaps throughout the first week, it should be one of the parents (ideally both should go) who accompanies the child to school and picks him up when classes end, since, thus, they give him security, regardless of how old you are. And it is that not because he is older is a guarantee that he will feel less anxiety.
When you arrive with him at school, do not forget to say goodbye with a smiling face and the promise that you will be waiting for him after class. The end of the day is almost always unpredictable, since, while some boys are enthusiastic and daring, others have an expression halfway between fatigue and distrust. Even so, what parents should not forget is that it is always an enriching experience and that the experience that will be the result of the end of the course does not depend on the return of the first day. The first experience depends on various factors, such as the personality of the child and the teachers, but mainly, it is subject to the attitude that parents take when we hear what they, from now on, will have each day to tell.
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