Important tips parents of first graders should follow
With the arrival of September and the reopening of schools, many parents worry about their first grader. The child who has been with their family for six years is now entering an unfamiliar environment and meeting new people at school.
This situation can be very scary for the child and concerning for parents. The child will need parental support to navigate first grade withoutstressand will require important tips shared in this section of family plusSelMagzthat parents should be aware of.
Do not scare your child
Many parents, before their child goes to school, create a negative mindset by saying things like, “Just wait till you go to school; they will correct you there,” or “You better do this, or I’ll tell your teacher when you go to school.” This creates a bad impression of school and teachers, making the child think the teacher is waiting to punish them for mistakes.
Never make your child scared of school, lessons, teachers, or classmates. Before school starts, take your child to visit the school so they can get familiar with it and not feel out of place. Show them the bathrooms, water fountains, classrooms, and the schoolyard.
Make your child excited about school
Parents of first gradersshould talk positively to make their child eager for school. For example, share your own positive and funny memories from primary school. Never scare your child from school or teachers to avoid them from doing something.
Always present the teacher as kind so that the child feels encouraged in the environment and lessons. Tell the child that school is a joyful and friendly place with kind teachers and friends, filled with happiness and fun. Reading storybooks related to this can be very beneficial, or ask older children who have school experience.
Accompany your child in the first days
Separation from parents and spending several hours in the unfamiliar school environment can be scary for the child, so certainly accompany them in the early days of school to help them feel secure and calm.
Never forcefully separate your child from their family, especially from their mother. The mother should stay close until the child can adjust to the new environment. This adjustment period may take a few days for some children and several months for others, so it is essential for the parents and school to be patient. Also, when your first grader returns home, at least one parent should be waiting for them.
Teach your child the basics
Parents should help prepare their children for school by teaching them the most basic tasks. Holding a pencil, sitting about forty to forty-five centimeters away from the notebook, sitting upright in front of the notebook, avoiding writing while lying on their stomach, and trying to write while sitting at a desk and chair are things parents should teach the child.
Parents should not start teaching their child to read and write before they begin school, as children may find the lessons repetitive and become mischievous, disrupting the class and losing interest in lessons, developing a habit of not listening, leading toacademic declineover time.
Teach your child school rules
Before school starts, explain to the child how to obey their teacher and the school rules. For example, say that a good student should arrive on time at school, sit quietly in class, and listen to their teacher.
Let your child choose school supplies
To generate excitement, take your child shopping for a backpack, shoes, and school supplies before they start school and let them choose their own supplies, but ensure that the items are appropriate.
Using standard-sized pencils and large erasers gives the child better writing control. The eraser should also be soft enough to erase with minimal pressure. Choose notebooks that have fewer pages as they can become dirty and unkempt quickly. A large backpack is not suitable for a child.
Pay attention to your child’s nutrition
Hunger can make children cranky and irritable, so take care of their nutrition. Don’t forget breakfastand provide healthyand suitable foods like fruit or a sandwich withcheeseandwalnutsto accompany them. Good nutrition greatly affects a child’s learning.
Teach your child how to make friends
If you want your child to be social, explain to them how to make friends. Teach your child to identify and befriend smart and polite children right from the start so that you feel comfortable about your child’s friends.
Teach your child to be organized
Teach your child to keep their belongings tidy and clean and to be careful not to dirty or mess up their clothes. Never send your child to school in untidy clothes. Regular hand washing, keeping hair and nails short, and wearing clean and tidy clothes are among the most important lessons for children.
Teach your child to use school supplies
Show your child how to use their backpack and organize their items, including pencils, erasers, and sharpeners. Teach them to take care of their supplies and to avoid crying if they lose any items at school, but instead seek help from their teacher.
Observe these tips for assisting with homework
- Monitor your child’s homework and plan as necessary.
- Do not pressure your child for studying or writing assignments.
- Identify your child’s talents and capabilities as soon as possible.
- When helping with homework, do not sit right above them as this makes the child dependent on the mother and prevents them from writing anything without her help.
- Since a child’s wrist and fingers are weak, allow them to take breaks.
- Use encouragement often to motivate your child, but make sure this encouragement does not turn into bribery.
- Avoid unreasonable comparisons.
- Never directly provide answers or solutions to the child.
- Trust the teacher as they know best how to teach the children.
- Avoid inconsistent and arbitrary teaching methods.
Teach the child to compete
Avoid harmful comparisons and teach your child to compete with themselves, learning something new each day without feeling jealousy or unhealthy competition with classmates. When your child learns a new lesson or skill compared to the previous day, offer verbal praise and affection.
Participate in school meetings
Attending meetings organized by schools for parents is essential to learn the teaching methods. Participating in these meetings helps you understand the teacher’s approach, preventing confusion for your child between your methods and those of the teacher.
