The first day of pre-school (or play school) is a milestone for every child, and parent! You might remember feeling anxious or apprehensive as you dropped your little one off. You probably worried about whether they will adjust, how they will cope being away from you (even if for a few hours), whether they will get proper care and attention. If you can identify with any of these concerns, you are not alone. It is typical for pre-school parents to experience a range of mixed emotions as their child gets ready for the new stage.
Here are a few things to keep in mind to make the transition smoother:
Letting go
Some parents may find it challenging to not have their child in front of their eyes even for a short period of time. It might take some time to adjust to your child being away. Remember, this time is very valuable not just for the child to grow and develop, but also for parents to focus on self-care and other activities that do not revolve around the child.
Behaviour
If you have an active and engaging child, you might not think a school with a restricted and controlled environment will be beneficial. Similarly, if your child is very shy and quiet, your biggest worry would be regarding their reaction to new atmospheres and people. Remember, your child is at the age of developing their self-concept and will learn what suits them best, in time.
Expectations
In their eagerness to get them the best of everything, parents might end up burdening the child with the load of their expectations. It is important to realize that each child is unique and develops at their own pace. While it is good to encourage your child to try different things, be open to the idea that they might not like it as much as you expected every time.
Balance
Children’s personalities are shaped to a great extent by their early childhood experiences. It is essential that parents balance between encouraging expression and exercising control. An excess of either can be detrimental, so make sure to build and enforce healthy boundaries. Encourage them to play with other children and to share their toys.
Tantrums and fights
It is very common for pre-school children to throw tantrums or fight with their peers. This is perhaps the first time that they are expected to adjust with other people and are no longer the center of everyone’s attention. This is an important developmental learning. Your child will gradually learn that there are other children with similar wants and needs. To facilitate this learning, you can encourage them to share even when they are out of school. Teach them that they can’t get everything simply by crying and screaming.
Safety
Children need to be taught about staying safe from a young age. Make sure you teach them basic safety measures in a way that they can comprehend. For example, teach them to stay away from sharp objects and fire. Similarly, it is very important that you teach them about good touch and bad touch. Encourage them to share with you everything that happens at school – both good and bad. . If they are uncomfortable with any situation or environment, these conversations will help you pin point the areas of their distress and enable you to take necessary steps toward reducing it. For example, if you child is being teased for being shy at school, reach out to the child’s teacher as they will be at a better vantage point to suggest what can be done to help your child.
This article highlights some common issues that parents of pre-school children typically face. Sometimes it can get overwhelming to manage parenting alongside all your other tasks and responsibilities. In such a scenario, it is helpful to speak to a counselor or a parenting expert, who can support you in coping, and aid you in finding healthy ways of maintaining a balance.
Now, help is just a click away with the HealthEminds platform, which allows you to connect with professionals over a secure video call. To know more, e-mail us your concern at [email protected]