[Ni Hao Chinese EQ Story]: Shasha’s first day at preschool. Let’s see how did she feel and what did she do?
Starting new semester and new school are exciting but on the under hand could also be challenging especially for young children who attend school at the first time. Both the parents and the kids could experiences the anxiety, struggling, or excitement at the first day of school. Many parents may even have a hard time dropping off their children in the morning, when the children are crying, being emotional and refusing to stay at school.
How long does it usually take for younger children to adjust to school?
How long does it usually take for younger children to adjust to school?
It depends on different ages and also different personality of the children. Elder children usually take less time and younger children may need more time. Therefore, it would be very important to create a welcoming environment (e.g. natural light, grow green plants in classroom, play music when waiting for students in the morning, make the indoor/outdoor space colorful, offer warm greetings, etc) at school, which can greatly reduce the time and process the kids need to adapt to the school.
What can parents do if children get emotional and refuse to go into classroom?
1. Before going to school, parents can give their children some anticipation to the school life like: ‘you are going to make a lot of good friends there’, ‘see! you have art class today! I know you are really good at drawing’, or ‘the playground has a nice slide! I am so jealous that you can stay there and use the slide’.
2. Children can bring the security toys or security blanket to school. It can be their favorite toys, books, or photos, which may provides them the feelings of safety and comfort.
3. Parents are suggested to walk their children into school instead of carrying them or holding them, which will possibly make it more difficult for both sides to deal with separation.
4. Avoid being too emotional or overreacted when you leave. We understand that it could be hard for parents to send their kids to school or childcare at the first time. However, lingering around or showing too much emotion may make it harder for the children to go into classroom.
5. Communicate with the teachers and trust the teachers. Normally, preschool teachers and caregivers are professionally trained and have lots of experiences in dealing with such situation. Parents are encouraged to communicate with the teachers proactively (but try not to keep texting them or calling them during the day). Dealing with the anxiety from entering a new environment without the company of parents is also a important part of children’s learning in early childhood. The teachers and parents can work together and make kids’ adjustment more smooth.
Are you ready for the new semester? Although most of the schools turn into distant learning, some childcares and preschools are considered essential service and remain physically available for the children. Fall 2020 will be a very different and also challenging period for all of us. As long as we get well-prepared, we can still enjoy the school year and learn safely.
Ni Hao Chinese Preschools is also ready! We guarantee a safe and inspiring learning environment.
Your safety is always our priority! All school tours will be conducted virtually. You can enjoy the interactive virtual tours by walking through the campus with us and meet our staff!
