Every year both parents and teachers have the task of adjusting to students new schedules and environment but we must not forget that these adjustments are much more difficult for the children than they are for us.  There are many things that parents and teachers can do to help start a new school year off easier for their children, and listening to what children have to say is just the beginning.

I cannot count the number of times I have had parents ask me for suggestions on how they can help their children feel comfortable at a new school or new class or wonder why their child is not happy at the beginning of a new semester.  For some children the transition to a new class is an exciting and happy time, they get to meet and make new friends, be in a different surrounding and it can be something that they really look forward to, but for other students this time can be scary and both parents and teachers need to work together to make this change as smooth as possible.

A new school year should be a great experience for children and it can be with just a few simple steps, but too often these simple steps are overlooked.  When a child begins a new class they can feel out of place, they may often cry or go home and say that they don’t like school or that they don’t want to go back.  Some parents may start to wonder why? They may think that something bad may be happening to their child and this is making them unhappy.  In most situations this is not the case, the problem can usually be solved with spending time talking to your child and explaining why they need to go to school.  And the most important word in that sentence is “NEED” to go to school.  When a child is given the choice, most children will choose to stay home at the beginning because they are comfortable there and are with people they already know well.  If parents give in to a child’s demands and cries and let them stay home or go to school late it will only make the situation worse

Through my experience I have seen that a great way of dealing with these situations is to directly let the child know why they are going to school.  Explain to them that it is a happy place where they can play, make new friends and learn many fun and interesting things.  When you spend the time to explain “school” to your child they can usually accept and adapt to the new surroundings much easier.  Do not let them convince you to stay home, make them feel safe by telling them the good things about school and they will quickly realize how fun it can really be.

Of course it is not always that easy and this is where communication with teachers and parents is extremely important.  When a parent can trust a teacher and they communicate well they can easily solve any problem together. 

Here are some simple tips to help a child quickly get used to the new school year.
FOR PARENTS:

1. Reinforce to your child that school is a safe and friendly environment
2. Let your child know that you too also needed to go to school when you were younger
3. Explain to them about the fun they will have and the great friends they will make
4. Take the time to talk to them and listen to what they have to say each day about their school experiences
5. Never complain to your child about school if there is a problem you may be having, or they will begin to dislike going there

FOR TEACHERS:

1. Take the time to get to know the child, learn about something they like so you have a common interest
2. Always listen to what they have to say.  As a teacher sometimes you may feel what they are saying is not important, but to them it means the world
3. Have fun whenever you can, keep them smiling while learning
4. Set routines so that children know what is happening and they can adjust quickly
5. Communicate with parents so you can learn if there is anything at home that is bothering the child or something little you can do to help

These are just some simple steps to make the start of a new school year fun and easy for children, parents and teachers.  These little things can make a big difference and can set the tone for years to come as each year is a new school year and we should strive to make it the best it can be for everyone involved.

新莊  AP1&P1&P4外師  Larry Schoen

University of Manitoba, Canada