Back to school: Is my child ready?

Going to school for the first time can be daunting under the best of circumstances. Doing so during a pandemic may be even more stressful for both child and parent. If you have opted to send your child to school instead of Home schooling, your child will now have to learn to wear a face mask and to sanitise hands on top of everything else. He or she might feel overwhelmed in the beginning. You might also feel scared sending your child to school. 

There are however things that you can do to make the first day of school less daunting:

  1. Make sure that your child has everything he/she will need for the first day of school. It is easy for a child to fit in if he/she has the correct school uniform, stationary, lunchbox etc. If you are unsure of what works best, try and talk to someone who already has children in the school and can give you some insight.
  2. Make sure you spend time with your child the evening before the big day. During this time try to alleviate any fears he/she might have. The best way to do this is to validate your child's fears. Do not make them seem trivial. It is normal to feel apprehensive. Assure him/her that no matter what happens you will be there for him/her and will still love them.
  3. Personally take your child to school. Walk with him/her to the gate or classroom, if permitted. Don't be afraid to show affection. If you feel very emotional try and be strong for your child. You can go home afterwards and cry all you like. Little children can get very upset if their parents are upset, so try and be calm. If your child starts to cry, don't feel bad or embarrassed. It is normal. Comfort your child as much as possible and then hand your child over to his/her teacher. Your child's teacher will now how to distract him/her. Remember your child is in good hands. Say goodbye, promising you will pick him/her up after school.
  4. Personally pick your child up from school. I know it is hard for working parents. Take a day of leave if you have to. This is a very important day in your child's life. Your boss can cope without you for this one day. Make sure you arrive early as parking at the school on the first day can be tricky. Be glad to see your child. Give him/her a big hug and tell them how much you missed them during the day. Ask them about their day showing real interest. Ask specific questions, like: Did you colour in? or get to use your new crayons? What did you play during break? Enjoy your child's new experiences with them.
  5. Your child might not have had a great day. He/she might come home crying not wanting to go back to school. This is normal. Do not feel embarrassed or that you have done something wrong. Some children can take weeks before they fully adjust to school life. Comfort your child. Do not scold him/her. Try and find out if there was a specific incident that caused him/her to feel this way. If he/she is upset because of an altercation with another child, it is best to bring this under your child's teacher's attention. It might only be an isolated incident and blow over. Be patient. After a week or two your child will settle in and start liking school. The most important thing you can do is validate his/her feelings, stay positive, motivate your child to take part in activities and let him/her know that no matter what happens you support him/her.
It is very important that a child must be emotionally ready to go to school. If you have doubts about your child's readiness it is best to have your child assessed. A child's School readiness can be assessed by a Psychometrist or a Psychologist who will be able to advise you on the best course of action.

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