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Beginning School
For children who have attended preschool, beginning school will involve less of a transition than for those who
have not. But in either case, school is typically quite different from preschool. Added to that is the unfortunate
fact that many public schools are often - whether through lack of funding, bureaucratic bungling, bad philosophy or
factors outside their control - far less than ideal places to educate children.
But whether parents are enrolling the child in a good public school or private school, there are many similar new
factors parents will do well to prepare for.
Some children (and parents, too) will naturally experience a certain amount of separation anxiety. One effective
way to deal with this is to avoid the false alternative of 'Stiff upper lip' versus 'Yes, isn't it horrible'.
Children are neither soldiers nor made of Jello.
An honest recognition that new experiences can be difficult, without over-dramatizing, is healthy. Children should
be helped to see that the new environment isn't threatening, but without dismissing their valid concerns.
Meeting the teacher before the first day of school is extremely helpful. Introducing the child to a new adult, one
whose goal is to help them develop, with the parent present helps everyone relax. Many schools will hold special
events to do just that, but don't expect to have a long period alone with the teacher. They often have many
parent-child groups to meet.
Explaining to the child that attending school is a natural, indeed an exciting, part of growing up will help
prepare them for the experience. Most children are naturally curious. Making school a continuation of the home
process of developing the child's mind and confidence by exploring the world will help school seem less
strange.
Most schools will assign some form of very simple homework before long. Here again, parents can help avoid any
anxiety that may occur in the face of this new challenge by making it not new. Giving the child age-appropriate
tasks to complete before school begins helps build confidence, especially when the parent demonstrates eagerness to
help overcome the humps.
Beware of giving too much aid or too much comfort, though. Allowing the child to experience difficulty, and seeing
first hand that they are competent to meet the challenge, creates those early self-esteem building blocks.
Shielding a child from any and all possible sources of discomfort is both unrealistic and harmful to the child.
Demonstrating excessive parental concern can inadvertently suggest to the child that there is something real to be
feared in the new environment. That's contrary to the message the parent wants to convey.
More fundamentally, every aspect of human development needs some kind of challenge to build strength. That's true
not only for muscles and bones, but for mind and emotions as well. When those challenges are within the reach of
the child's real potential - given his or her individual nature - confidence and intellectual capacity grow
simultaneously.
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