**Collaborative post**
Moving from nursery to big school can be scary for a child that’s just gotten used to their new safety net. As well as the new faces, they may need to get used to longer hours away from their parents as they enter full-time education. To make this transition less daunting, there are a number of things that you can do. For one, you can take them to visit their school. That way, they will be able to build some familiarity with their surroundings and it won’t be such a shock to them when they start. Continue reading for more tips shared with us by a nursery school in Hampshire.
Build The Excitement
Moving to a big school presents an exciting opportunity for children to meet new people and make friends. While they may have their initial nerves, you can help them to see the move in a more positive light by reinforcing this. You can talk about how they felt when they were moving to nursery and how great of a move it was.
Use Children’s Story Books
Story books can help to deliver important messages to children. They cover a vast range of areas, including the move to school. Books like “The Colour Monster Goes to School” can help them to see the bigger picture and how there are lots of amazing things to come.
Role Play
To settle their nerves, you can also put on a puppet show. You can play out the role of a teacher while they pretend to be a student and give them some insight as to how their school day will be. They will need to do things like respond to the register when it is being taken, pack their things up at the end of the day and remember to bring them home.
Get them to bed
Most children stay up past their bedtime during the summer holidays. After all, summer is a time for family and enjoying the long sunny days and light evenings to the full, without the pressure of school. Getting your children back into a normal bedtime routine will make the first week of school so much easier for both of you. Make a start during the second to last week of the holidays. Then they’ll be properly rested for the busy weeks ahead.
You may also like:
- Getting back to school ready – a checklist
- What to do when your child moves to a new school
- How to tell if Your Child is Happy at School
