The first time the child goes to school is a crucial moment in his life. The beginning is half of everything. It is very important that separation from parents and its adaptation to the school environment is smooth. The child as long as he is a baby needs his parents and especially his mom to survive. It depends on them. In their hug he feels safe. But when he grows up a little, comes a day when the schoolbell rings for him.
The child that feels safe in mom’s and dad’s hugis is called to adapt to a new, unknown environment. He is called to go from the mother’s hug to the teacher’s hug, who at first is unknown to him. It takes time to feel security, love, affection and warmth. A warm, quiet and welcoming place is the right place to welcome the child. School pedagogues have the experience of this process and can advise parents at every stage.
It is very important that this process is very smooth. We leave the child for a little time every day at school so that he gradually gets used to the school and the new faces who will contact daily. It is good that we have prepared the child earlier, that we have explained to him what he will do in the nursery school and what the benefits will be. It is also important for the child to know that the parent is always beside him during the adaptation and encourages it. The parent needs to be in the school during the first days and when comes the day when mom will have to leave school, she has to inform the child about it so that he does not feel abandoned. It is important that the separation from that day on is short and the parent firm in his decision. It is very likely that the child will cry for a few minutes, but he will soon stop and join the team. It is very important at this point for the parent to leave the child and not to bend from child’s crying, because as long as separation is prolonged, the situation is more difficult.
The parent’s determination is of great importance for the adaptation of the child. The parent needs to be prepared for this separation and determined to take this step. Any stress or anxiety is transferred to the child. The child senses the parent’s difficulty to separate from it, which makes it difficult to be adapted. But when the parent is calm and confident that the child will make it, the child senses it and calms. The parent has to feel that he is doing something good for his child when he sends it to school. The school will help the child develop, to develop his sociality and cultivate his abilities, skills and talents. It is good to think about these benefits when they hear the child crying. He should not be upset, but he should feel sure that he has taken the best decision for his child.
Always remember that all children can be adapted. But every child is unique, has his own pace and temperament and wants to give him time and trust him and everything will go well.
Andromachi Dossa – Kandiraki
pedagogue – owner of the nursery school
