{"id":66975,"date":"2023-01-31T02:08:29","date_gmt":"2023-01-31T07:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=66975"},"modified":"2023-01-31T02:08:29","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T07:08:29","slug":"a-message-to-anxious-parents-as-320000-australian-children-start-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/a-message-to-anxious-parents-as-320000-australian-children-start-school\/","title":{"rendered":"A message to anxious parents as 320,000 Australian children start school"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Around Australia,\u00a0about 320,000 children<\/a>\u00a0are starting school for the first time. As an early childhood researcher, former kindergarten teacher, and parent of a child beginning school on Monday, this transition fascinates me.<\/p>\n

Culturally we place so much importance on this time. Everyone from the lovely cashier at the supermarket, to family, friends and neighbours have been eagerly asking my child, \u201care you excited about starting school?\u201d<\/p>\n

While people have good intentions, the question comes with the clear expectation that \u201cstarting big school\u201d is a really big deal. And this puts a lot of pressure on the transition.<\/p>\n

For parents, it also raises the question of how best we can prepare our children (and ourselves) for this time. The following tips may help.<\/p>\n

Learning is ongoing, not a one-off<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Research\u00a0consistently shows<\/a>\u00a0a positive start to school is linked to long-term benefits in education and wellbeing and helps avoid issues such as\u00a0school avoidance and refusal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Parents (me included) need to recognise children\u2019s learning as a lifelong\u00a0trajectory<\/a>. What happens in the first weeks of school will not determine your child\u2019s success in life. Your. child will continue to build skills over the year and over their whole school experience.<\/p>\n

It is easy to compare your child with others, but often this is unhelpful.<\/p>\n

There will be some children starting school who can read, some who will know letters and sounds, and others who are just beginning in this area. Schools will be aware of this (and realistically, children do not need to be fluent readers at five or six).<\/p>\n

Traditional thinking has been that all children should be able to do certain things before starting school, with a focus on \u201cschool readiness\u201d. But this has been replaced with a new focus on schools being ready for all students, regardless of their diverse skills.<\/p>\n

Communication matters<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Ongoing, clear communication with our children about what to expect and how to manage is important.<\/p>\n

This could include reminding our children of the pickup routine, or helping them talk about how (and who) to ask for help if they need it.<\/p>\n

Communication also matters with teachers. As parents, this is one key way we can support our children. Research shows\u00a0family engagement<\/a>\u00a0with teachers helps children learn and build confidence.<\/p>\n

This means talking to the teacher about your child\u2019s strengths and interests, but also outlining areas where they may need help. In suggesting this, launching into this discussion at drop-off on the first day might not be ideal. Instead, email the front office to set up a time or schedule an early parent-teacher meeting to talk.<\/p>\n

Worry isn\u2019t helpful, but instincts can be powerful<\/strong><\/h4>\n

As parents, we have much we could worry about. Have we read enough books to our kids? Have they watched too much television? Does my child remember where the bathroom is at school? Will they behave? Should I have made them learn all the sounds of the alphabet? Will they drink enough water? The list is endless.<\/p>\n

Sometimes our worries can be transmitted to our children. We need to take care to speak positively about school around our kids, to help\u00a0to reduce anxiety<\/a>\u00a0in our children.<\/p>\n

But while worry can be unhelpful, parental instincts are important. In my time as a teacher I learned to listen to parents\u2019 concerns, particularly around eyesight and hearing.<\/p>\n

For example, if you are concerned that your child might not be seeing things as you share a book, or they don\u2019t hear you unless looking at you, talk to your teacher. Early support is important for all areas of children\u2019s health and development.<\/p>\n

Transitions take time<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Finally, transitions (especially once-in-a-lifetime ones like this) take time, so give yourself and your child time to settle in.<\/p>\n

Your child will have good days, bad days and OK days. So don\u2019t worry if they don\u2019t come home from school on the first day or week absolutely loving it, or having learned obvious new skills.<\/p>\n

Helping our children acknowledge the challenge and seeing their growth is helpful (\u201cwow, you\u2019ve done a whole week at your new school!\u201d).<\/p>\n

This is not just about academic achievement. It can be about making friends, learning how to buy their lunch at the canteen or mastering the monkey bars.<\/p>\n

Author Bio:<\/strong> Kate Highfield is a Senior Lecturer, Deputy Head of School (ACT and regional NSW) at the Australian Catholic University<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Around Australia,\u00a0about 320,000 children\u00a0are starting school for the first time. As an early childhood researcher, former kindergarten teacher, and parent of a child beginning school on Monday, this transition fascinates me. Culturally we place so much importance on this time. Everyone from the lovely cashier at the supermarket, to family, friends and neighbours have been […]\n… learn more→<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15645],"tags":[357605],"coauthors":[11733],"class_list":["post-66975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-education","tag-starting-school"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA message to anxious parents as 320,000 Australian children start school - World leading higher education information and services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/world.edu\/a-message-to-anxious-parents-as-320000-australian-children-start-school\/\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A message to anxious parents as 320,000 Australian children start school - World leading higher education information and services\" class=\"yoast-seo-meta-tag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Around Australia,\u00a0about 320,000 children\u00a0are starting school for the first time. 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