Going back to school is a big change for toddlers. When they return after a fun-filled summer, they’ll likely have a whole new classroom, a different teacher, and maybe even a new group of children to meet. Your toddler might not be worried about these things. Instead, they might be ready to take going back to school in stride.
However, these big changes can bring about some complex feelings in your toddler. If they’re unsure about how to process these emotions, many toddlers will suffer in silence about the big day and all the changes that come with it. This is why preparing them for going back to school is so important. But what kinds of things can you do to make sure your child is ready to return to education?
Talk it Out
First and foremost, find out what exactly about school is troubling your toddler. Make sure to broach the topic lightly, and ask open-ended questions to get them talking. As summer is coming to an end, perhaps ask if they are excited about starting school again. If there is something that’s on their mind, you don’t have to comfort them and tell them everything will be ok. Instead, listen to what they have to say. Give them the tools to embrace their nerves and calmly work through them. Remind them that the teachers and assistants are there to help them, and they can go to them for encouragement at any time.
Take a Tour
Your toddler’s school may offer orientation activities for students to come and look around. This is especially helpful if it’s your toddler’s first year at their big school, as you’ll be able to reassure them that they have nothing to worry about. Taking a look around will help your toddler to develop a routine around school because they’ll know exactly where they put their bags and line up for registration. This will make the daily process much more manageable for anxious young minds. If you can introduce them to their teacher that’s even better. This will let them know they have someone they can trust in this new environment. You can also let the teacher know that they’re a little nervous and might need some extra care.
Go on a Shopping Trip Together
The back-to-school season always requires some shopping trips to make sure your toddler is well-equipped for the coming year. If you usually do the back-to-school shopping alone, why not take your toddler along? Allowing them to choose their pencil case, lunch box, stationary, and school shoes is a great way to give them control of the situation. Not to mention, they’ll feel extra confident walking into school on that first day dressed to the nines in their new uniform.
Set up Some After-School Activities
Out-of-school activities can help introduce your child to a new social circle, and let them know how easy it is to make friends. In many ways, starting a new club or sport is harder than going back to school. If your child is passionate about their hobby then they’ll fit right into an after-school club, and you can even attend with them. This will prepare them to put themselves out there, find their way around a new environment, and learn about new and interesting things. Plus, it’ll help get them excited about the school week, because they get to do something they love each day after school.
Find Out what They’re Learning
If you can get ahold of your toddler’s syllabus for the coming year, you can introduce them to any tricky topics early. By introducing your child to these new subjects at home, you’ll give them a good foundation for learning when they get to school. They’ll be much less intimidated by all the new information they have to take on if they’ve been over it before. You don’t need to teach your children anything in-depth, just help them get to grips with the basics that their teachers will expand upon. With this head-start, your child will feel much more capable and excited about going to school each morning.