Preparing Your Child For School - Tips from Avenues: The World School

As summer comes to a close, and parents are helping their children transition to go back to school, a common concern of parents is separation: Will my child be able to separate? Will the teacher understand his/her needs? The first day of school brings a mixture of emotions for both parents and children.  

I wanted to share some helpful and timely tips from Nancy Schulman, head of the Early Learning Center at Avenues: The World School, former longtime director of the renowned 92^nd Street Y Nursery School, and co-author of several parenting books, to help ease separation anxiety and make the first day of school a positive experience:

DO: 

• ESTABLISH GOOD BEDTIME AND MORNING ROUTINES
• REVIEW TEACHERS NAMES AT HOME
• READ BOOKS TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT BEGINNING SCHOOL
• BE ON TIME FOR ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL 
• TURN YOUR CELL PHONE OFF
• CONVEY A POSTIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD SCHOOL—SMILE!
• GREET TEACHERS IN A FRIENDLY MANNER
• POINT OUT THEIR COAT HOOKS AND CUBBIES
• TELL YOUR CHILD WHERE YOU WILL BE AND BE THERE
• ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR CHILD’S FEELINGS (“I know it’s hard…you’ll be O.K”)
• DURING ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL –FOCUS ON YOUR CHILD. GIVE THEM EXTRA INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION AND QUIET PLAY TIME AT HOME AFTERWARDS
• SAY A SHORT GOODBYE BUT DON’T WAIT FOR A RESPONSE
• WAIT TO SOCIALIZE WITH OTHER PARENTS WHEN YOU ARE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
• COMMUNICATE ANY SPECIAL CONCERNS TO THE TEACHERS
• BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR CHILDREN—THEY CAN DO THIS!

DON’T:

• TALK ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN IN FRONT OF THEM
• ASK YOUR CHILD’S PERMISSION TO LEAVE
• BRING CAMERAS AND VIDEOS ON THE FIRST DAY-FOCUS ON THE MOMENT
• HAVE MORE THAN ONE ADULT BRING YOUR CHILD
• DON’T CARRY YOUR CHILD INTO SCHOOL
• OVERSCHEDULE YOUR CHILD AFTER SCHOOL
• FEEL GUILTY – YOU ARE GIVING THEM A GIFT!