If your child is off to primary school this September, you’re probably feeling a mixture of emotions, some parents may feel excited at the prospect of some peace and quiet throughout the day, others may be filled with worry.
Of course, all these emotions are completely natural, and the best thing to do is try and be as calm as possible and prepare your child for what's to come.
But, how exactly do you prepare your child for their new adventure at school? Starting school is a massive step for children and it’s really important that you communicate and ease the transition.
We spoke to Phil Papworth, a child and adolescent psychotherapist in Jersey who has some pointers for parents.
He said: “It’s a critical transitional moment developmentally. Anxiety is often raised in the parents but generally most children are robust enough just to run off and join in.
“It’s a challenging time for children with new challenges and fatigue often a key factor. The adjustments are strong and far reaching, expanding their world and experience.
"One of the key functions of development is for the child to learn and discover a sense of self…’who am I and how do I integrate with this developing world?'”
According to Phil, resilience is the key to adjustment and coping.
He added: “By this age most infants will have had some early experiences of separation from their mothers and experiences in which they have been practicing adaptation and emotional adjustment.”
The real question is, is your child ready, and what can you do as a parent to make sure that they are?
Phil said: “We tend to stagger children into nursery gradually to allow for their developmental vulnerabilities. In some countries such as Finland children don’t even begin to go to school until they are 7 years old.
"The belief is that the child’s development should be fully consolidated within the family before commencing school.”
Primary school is all about providing a framework for a healthy development, it teaches your children emotional intelligence with relationships, and other ‘grown up’ things.
When preparing your child for school, it’s always best to have a chat with staff with any concerns.
Phil said: “Separation for adults from their child is an anxious time... they can seem vulnerable and insecure.
“In order to function independently and to gain independence, such separations are important and necessary.”
