Getting ready for the 1st of September – psychologist’s advice

How to help a child get ready for the 1st of September?

Tell your child about school life, about the events that will happen that day.

Try to spend a few days before the 1st day of September according to the school regime, i.e. with strict wakeup time and bedtime.

You can out the child’s favourite toy (if the size allows) into his or her backpack (the child will feel more calm that way).

It will be better if you don’t give the child the cell phone on the 1st of September (and during the whole adaptation period). It’s harder for a child to get used to the new life situation and new adults if there is a permanent connection with the parents.
Prepare all necessary things in the evening to avoid the morning panic. Calculate the time in order to have enough for breakfast and toilet.

What unexpected complications may arise?

Often the children (especially those who didn’t go to the kindergarten or childrens’ groups) refuse to part with mommy or daddy who took them to scholl. The child may start crying, clinging to the parents. In that case, it’s better to go to the classroom together with the child. It’s important to calm the child and not to leave him or her in such state.

What unexpected complications may arise on the 2nd of September? Mother wakes Pete in the morning on the second day of September: “Wake uo, Pete, it’s time to go toschool!” Pete: “I already went there yesterday…”

How to react if a child is angry at the teacher (other children) in school, or feels afraid of the school?

First of all, do not forbid the feelings.

Stop telling the child «You can’t be angry! It’s bad to be afraid!» Feelings are totally natural. It’s necessary to discuss with the child that we all are different, and sometimes feel or behave in different ways, and that you can’t always expect thing to happen just like you want them to.

Iryna Lagoda, top-rank psychologist, Head of the CISC_Kyiv psychological service

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