How to make your toddler comfortable with going to a school?
Vega Schools, Gurgaon
Preparing children for Preschool
Explain the routines of preschool
Meet the teachers
Schools always organise an open house, where parents, teachers, and children can get to know each other. Wait patiently and make sure you get a chance to chat with her when your child is within the hearing range and watching you. It is all about ‘Trust’.
Visit the school
Before the school year, take your child around the classroom and explore different spaces and activities. You may just be driving by the school and casually point it out to the child to create familiarity in comfort.
Set up playdates before the school opens
Seeing familiar faces in the class will increase your child's comfort level.
Keep a positive mindset
Children closely watch parent’s expressions, sense feelings and listen attentively. So be calm and confident. Avoid statements like “are you scared?” instead reassure gently.
Role play
‘Pretend’ play with soft toys around home about going out like parents do returning with excitement and bag full of experiences comes a long way in settling children.
Read books
Read stories from their favourite story characters (Winnie the Pooh, Clifford or Peppa Pig stories) about ‘First day to School’ describing what happens at school, children’s feelings. This is like a familiar dry run in their comfort zone.
Bye! Bye! ritual
The bye should be quick and not adding sentiments to it. A prolonged, stretched Bye! Bye! May make children think and make them anxious. A long farewell scene might only reinforce a child's sense that preschool takes parents away for a certain time.
Don’t sneak away
Never sneak, or lie to the child in the fear of making the child anxious. Mothers should never be separated from the child suddenly, because of her professional commitment or as a process to settle the child. Parents are a safety net.
Never make comparisons
The child who never cries when the parents leave. Crying at every separation for a while helps work with feelings.
These skills will go a long way in developing Social Emotional skills in toddlers.
With these best practices, the child will happily settle in a pre-nursery, nursery school or a kindergarten.
By applying these ideas, your toddler will be well prepared for the Best Schools of Gurgaon.
