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To get rid of ‘first school day’ blues

Starting kindergarten could be a daunting experience for both children and their parents. For some kids, being away from home and being left on their own with unfamiliar faces could be frightening while for mums, leaving their children in someone else’s care for the first time could be unsettling.

According to early education experts, getting both the child and parents prepared for this day could spell the difference between a tragic or good experience for both.

“When my daughter Kim started kindergarten last year, we thought she was prepared. She was in a créche early on and has been exposed to other kids. However, when I was about to leave, she rushed out and clung to me crying desperately not to leave her. It was an agony,” related mum Natasha Wong.

Dad Steven brought his second daughter, Tanya, to start school last month for the first time. He said that although Tanya kept a brave face, it broke his heart to see her try hard to control tears as he was leaving.

“She heard good stories about school from her older sister and she was excited to start school herself. I think it didn’t dawn on her till that day that she will be on her own. But when I told her that Julia is just down the corridor from her, that sort of calmed her, I think,” Steven said.

For many kids, starting kindergarten is an exciting adventure. It is a new beginning for learning, developing friendship, confidence and independence. However, feeling anxious about starting kindergarten is normal for children and parents, said Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec).

For children, their concern centres on apprehension about going to the “big kids” school, the teacher and their ability to make friends. Parents, also have their own worries, such as not being there to protect their child and fear of them getting bullied.

In an endeavour to help parents better understand this critical phase in their child’s life and provide them with important tips on how to handle the transition of their kids from home to school, the Adec has released a ‘A Parent’s Guide to Starting Kindergarten’.

“We believe that parents play a vital role in preparing their children for kindergarten. This guide will certainly provide parents with the necessary tips to help their kids better adapt to the new environment,” said Dr Al Khaili.

The handbook, which is in Arabic, will help parents and caregivers prepare children for a successful launch into kindergarten, help them understand the kindergarten readiness skills — social and emotional development, self-care physical well-being and motor skills, language development and early academics — and provide them with tips to best prepare the students for a successful adventure.

Parental involvement

Dr Masood Badri, head of Research and Planning at the Adec, said the handbook has been developed to enhance parental involvement in kindergarten because researchers have discovered that children’s success in school depends on active parental involvement.

According to him, oftentimes parents face difficulties in dealing with their young children with some complaining that ‘my child refuses to go to school, my child continues to scream when riding a school bus, my child cannot dress himself up, my child cannot use the pencil’ etc.

He said that communicating with children and making sure they have a positive and enthusiastic attitude about starting kindergarten is of paramount importance.

“Parents should make sure that their children know that they are loved and supported and the kindergarten is a safe and happy place,” he stressed.

Parents should also provide their children with a pre-school experience to help prepare them to the new and unfamiliar environment.

Parents must get ready too

While readiness is different for every child, getting ready for school isn’t only for children. Families need to get ready too by preparing for new routines, planning for their supporting role to the child, teacher and school, said Dr Badri.

“It is important that our children feel excited and proud on their first day at school. We want them to walk through the classroom door ready to take their place in the “big kids” school,” Dr Al Khaili pointed out.