How to make 1st school day a breeze

POLOKWANE – Charne is a teacher at the Magic Castle Pre-school and Day Care Centre in Flora Park, McDonald Street, and shared her experience with children coming to school for the first time with us as well as giving some advice to parents who will take their little ones to school for the first time next year.

“It is normal for a child to cry if it is their first time going to school because they may be scared and frightened about having to be separated from the people they are used to being around all day. I think it is merely separation anxiety which will subsidise and go away with time,” she explained.

Her advice:

• It is important to ensure parents make their child used to the idea of school before they actually take them there. “Parents can even take the children to the respective school where the child will be schooling to get them familiar with the idea of going school, perhaps even leaving them there for a few hours.”
• It is also important for parents to talk to their children to assure them they will be safe at school. “As teachers we are trained and qualified to deal with teaching and caring for children which is why parents need to trust us and allow us to do our jobs,” she added.
• Buying new sets of clothes, backpacks and lunchboxes can motivate the child to look forward to actually going to school.
• Role playing with the child before they actually go to school can also help them adjust.
• “Parents also need to be mindful of their behaviour towards the child during these times of separation, for instance they must not act like they do not want leave the child at the school, but rather try by all means to affirm and assure the child they are safe and need to go school,” she concluded.

reporter29@nmgroup.co.za