Proper school prep

THE start of the school year can be stressful for both first-day pupils and returnees for the new term.

A child’s daily schedule is generally split into three sections: school, sleep and spending time at home.

Parents can prepare their children well during that last chunk of their time. They should remain positive and calm because if they worry about the first day of school, so will their child.

Taking certain steps can help parents and children prepare for challenges in the new term.

If a child is new to school or starting at a new school, parents should walk them around the building and surrounding area. This helps the child visualise where he or she will be on the first day.

Younger children benefit from hearing stories about the school they are enrolled in, nurturing excitement and fun.

Older children benefit from school friends visiting them before the year starts.

It helps them re-establish friendships after a break and allows them to voice their anxieties about their first day with their peers.

Research also shows that the food children consume affects their ability to focus in class.

To give the child the mental energy he or she needs, parents should provide a healthy breakfast that does not leave the child hungry before lunch.

According to a London school headmistress, the recipe for a successful student is to “have a lot of sleep, limit ‘screen time’, have quality free-time at home, engage in creative activities and be self-sufficient.”

If parents can encourage and foster these habits at home, then their child is in the best possible position to perform well in their first weeks at school.

Some parents worry that their children may withhold information about their first few days at school.

Parents should understand that what a child considers important may not be the same as what they consider important.

Those who suspect that their children are having issues should encourage them to relate their experiences at school.

The British Council takes various measures to reassure both parents and children during the first weeks of the term.

The first lesson for all students involves getting to know their classmates through fun games and speaking activities.

Students get to contribute to the class rules and become familiar with the types of activities for the upcoming year.

All parents receive a newsletter containing important information in Week 3.

They will also receive a report card at the end of Term 1 detailing their child’s progress, plus an overview of all the work covered in class.

http://www.telegraph. co.uk/education/0/how-to-prepareyour-child-for-school-in-a-few-easysteps/

Reference:

■ For more details, log on to http://www.britishcouncil.my/children