Motor Skills are Necessary
Fine motor skills are critically important in full-time school. They're also something that a lot of children lack when they start school. If your child plays a lot of video games or is involved in many sports, fine motor skills may not have developed enough for full-time school. To help with this, direct your child towards activities that will help with those ever-important fine motor skills. Lego, lacing books, drawing, coloring, learning to write their own name -- all of these things will help refine a skill that your child really cannot do without. I have my own preschooler working on fine motor skills for an hour a day, and he's still a year away from any kind of school. You don't have to start with an hour, but 15 minutes here and there can make a big difference.
Organization is Key
Nothing is more frustrating for a child than not being able to find that pencil they love or the eraser they picked at the store. A messy backpack or desk can be upsetting for your little one. Anticipate this by teaching your child to put things away properly. Have your child pick up with own coat and clean up their own toys. Then have your child neatly pack their own backpack. Hopefully, this regimine will continue at school at your child will always be able to find what they need.
Sleep is Important
Full-time school takes a lot of energy and this requires sleep. This is especially true during the first two or three months of school. Children who go to bed late or rise early will probably be too tired to concentrate at school. Adjust your child's sleep schedule so that they can get 8-10 hours sleep a night. Also look at how many activities your child is engaged in during the week. An overbooked child is a tired child.
Lunch is No Laughing Matter
Lunch is a big deal for children. They've been working hard for half the day and need to eat. Pack attention to what you pack. Make sure the lunch is nutritious, but also ensure that you're packing foods your child actually likes. Carrot sticks for a child who never eats carrots is not a good idea. So test drive the lunches you're thinking of before sending them off to school. Personally, I use weekends to test out new lunches. If they won't eat it at home, they probably won't eat it at school.
School is a Social Environment
School is not only an educational environment, it's a social one. Your child may have a friend or two before beginning full-time school, but these ties can be severed by classmates who become socially choosier without a little help from you. Arrange playdates with established friends and keep your ears open for mention of new friends. Also watch your child for signs of unhappiness. Your child may be socially isolated. Talk to the school about assigning recess buddies to try to help your child make friends.
Your Child Will Be Cranky
Be prepared for your child to be beyond cranky when they get home. They've spent all day being on their best behavior (you hope) and that takes a lot of effort for young children. To deal with this, know your child. An excitable child may require lots of activity to burn off excess energy and keep them from mischief. A quieter child may need some quiet time such as reading or coloring. But have an activity ready to go when your child comes home. Scrambling for something to do won't help your little one.
Help With Homework
Homework just happens when your child starts school. It might be a bit of reading or tracing letters, but it's important that the homework get done. Help your child establish a routine for doing homework, and check the homework before your child goes back to school. A little guidance from you can really help your child get ahead.
These are just a few things you can do to encourage your child and help him or her to adjust to the new routine introduced by full-time school. But the best thing you can do is listen to your child. Pay attention to what your little one has to say about school and make sure you know what's going on in that classroom.
