4 ways to ease the first-day jitters
Being prepared physically and mentally makes a world of difference
The first day at kindergarten is certainly challenging. Your heart brims with pride as you marvel at how your child suddenly looks so grown up in a school uniform, but at the same time, your head is filled with anxious thoughts about how your little one will adapt and thrive.
It is helpful to mentally prepare your child for this milestone in their social development. Brace yourself for the logistical challenges in the early school days, and be prepared to be an emotional anchor for your child as you embark on this journey together.
1. Introduce the concept of school
Even as your child may be used to being dropped off at playgroup sessions, it is always helpful to go through the concept of school with your little one. Go through the first day at school with them using a story book or watching an animated series. There are plenty of popular shows, such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peppa Pig and Caillou. Also, bring it up in your daily conversations: it can be when you are walking past the school, or talking about his/her play buddies.
2. Be prepared for early releases and pick-ups during the first month
Kindergartens usually provide K1 students with two to four settling-in periods to help them get used to the school. The first week often involves having the parents accompany the children for a one-hour session, while the following weeks will be a matter of dropping your child off at school for two or three hours and hanging around in the neighbourhood in case the school should call for an early pick-up because of a melt-down. Working mums need to take this into account when planning leave and child-care arrangements.
3. Look for stress pointers
At such a tender age, a child may not be giving you a concrete answer of how his or her school day went. Answers like “I played with toys”, “the other children played with me” or “I don’t know” are common but not exactly helpful for concerned parents. Instead of verbal cues, be aware of stress pointers, such as loss in appetite and mood swings. Also look out for regressions such as not being able to sleep through the night or increased frequency of toilet accidents. But children are resilient and they are more likely to cope well if they feel secure and loved at home. Nothing can go wrong with one more cuddle, one more kiss, and saying yes more often when the little ones ask if you’d like to play with them.
