Beginning your child's journey at school

Here are eight tips that can help Kindergarten parents get their children off to a great start at their new school and reduce their anxiety:

Introduce yourself to your child’s teacher. You don’t have to wait until parent-teacher conferences to get to know your kindergartner’s teacher. Sometime during the first week or so of school, find a moment to say a quick hello. learn how contacting the teacher works and remember to keep the teacher informed about things that are of importance for your child to help reduce any anxiety.

Learn about your child’s school. Stay informed by reading school and parent-teacher group newsletters. Check the school website regularly for updates and information.

Talk with your child about school. When your child comes home from school, ask specific questions to draw them out. Instead of saying “How was your day?” ask “What was the best thing that happened today at school?” and “Tell me one new thing that you learned today”.

Show them that school matters. Praise your child’s efforts. Show them how wonderful their schoolwork is by posting artwork and school papers on the refrigerator for everyone to see. Communicate the idea, in both words and actions, that school is important.

Model responding and not reacting. If your child is struggling to make friends or to understand their teacher or the procedures, problem-solve with them to come up with their own solutions. Resist the urge to contact the school and problem solve on their behalf.

Learn early on that perception is reality at this young age. Often, what your child says is happening, may not be what is really happening, but a version tinted with their own emotional perception. Raise concerns with the teacher, but in a way that presupposes that a little one may have got hold of the wrong end of the stick or the situation may have been coloured by their own emotions.

Talk about your own primary schooling in a positive way. Try not to colour their journey by talking about negative school experiences with your little one. Try not to criticise the teacher, new friends, other families, or the school in general, especially in front of your child. Save that conversation for when little ears are not around to be influenced by your opinion.

If you feel that your child is struggling with a particular aspect of school and needs additional support, please feel free to contact kmrcounselling@gmail.com or ring 0430016871