Coming to the end of a school year brings with it the opportunity to celebrate personal achievements, growth, experience and reflect on learning and maturation development.
On the flip side the prospect of beginning a new year can be very daunting, scary and difficult to manage for a child, with the many changes that lay ahead.
My third son is about to begin his primary school years, and he is completely relaxed with this transition period. He is excited by the opportunities that lay ahead for him, proud to be called a ‘school boy’ and delighted with his new school uniform and ‘big boy haircut’!! (it was just another hair cut, but he associated it with becoming a school boy!)
I am also so very well aware of the stress and anxiety for some children who are completely overwhelmed by this transition. My first son was my little worrier and the step from kindergarten to primary school was a massive trigger for his anxieties.
What we must remember as parents, is that these ‘changing’ times are vital to the development of emotional resilience in our children and quite often their first reactions to dealing with this change is by copying that of their parents.
There is a level of anticipation in our house as my 5 year old experiences school transition days and as my other children wait to see who their next year’s teacher and classmates will be….this can be ‘exciting’ and also ‘terrifying’ for them at the same time. Just remember as a parent to EMBRACE the changes, model the excitement for what is yet to come…point out ALL of the positives of these changes, acknowledge the fears, but challenge the way the kids may want to think.
They will follow their parent’s lead every time…plan your reaction and comments to the announcements of new teacher, classes or school all with the aim of supporting your child, regardless of what you really want to say! (save this when they are out of ear shot!) Modelling disappointment, adaptions and how to just ‘get on with it’ is one of the most powerful lessons you can teach your child as these skill will be utilised many, many times in their future without them even knowing!
Think Big…
