When a child goes to school for the first time, it is stress and change for him, his parents, and sometimes for grandparents. What steps should be taken to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible for everyone?
With the advent of September 1, the whole family begins a new life, and it is better to prepare for it properly. And here are some questions that are better dealt with as soon as possible.
Routine
Whether your child went to kindergarten or not, with the start of school, a new routine awaits him. And all family members need to be prepared to keep an eye on him. The next day depends on what time the child goes to bed – energy, strength, mood, ability to cope with stress, which at first will be a lot at school.
Try to organize family life in such a way as to minimize conflict situations on this topic. Getting up early for school means going to bed early, and the rest of the family has to reckon with that.
First class logistics
Who takes the child to and from school? And who accompanies to circles and sections? Now you need to be as mobile as possible in the interests of the child, take into account the possibility of unexpected force majeure situations, when, for example, you forgot your physical education uniform or change of shoes at home.
You can not completely rely only on yourself, distribute responsibilities, talk about your actions with your family. Think over several options “in reserve”: grandparents, nannies, parents of classmates. It is necessary to clearly discuss with everyone in advance when, in what situations and what kind of help you may need. And of course, you need to talk with the child who is in the circle of your trusted representatives.
Parent Chats
Chats of parents of classmates are called by some “a necessary evil.” This is a large information field in which there are completely different people. And sometimes serious passions boil there. Therefore, together with family members, it is worth considering who can take on this important moment of communication, keep abreast of events and news and at the same time maintain goodwill and not give vent to emotions. After all, the way you position yourself in the parent chat is reflected in the image of your child in the classroom.
School is not the end of childhood
Let your first grader at home continue to be a “baby”: sit on your lap, play, play around and fool around together. At school, he begins a new “adult” life, and this is a big responsibility, it requires maximum strength and energy. Give your child positive support, because childhood continues!
School life in books and films
Books and films about schoolchildren will help your child adapt to a new life and new relationships. Read and watch them together, discuss, talk about your memories. So you can raise and discuss those problems and topics that resonate with the child, he will feel his involvement and will be able to play some situations in advance and with you.
Fill the space with stories about schoolchildren: “Summerhill”, “Tsatsiki goes to school”, “Vitya Maleev at school and at home”, “The Adventures of Petrov and Vasechkin”, “Attention, Turtle!”, “Adventures of Electronics” and others.
Calm, only calm!
And, of course, the main thing is for adults themselves to remain calm and positive. After all, the child skillfully reads your mood and adopts emotions. So the main advice that can be given to parents of first graders is to relax, everything will be fine!
About the Developer
Irina Alekseenko — child, family and school psychologist, works at the Lyceum .