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In the first few days of Nursery or Pre-Kindergarten your child will face new places, people, rules and relationships. This can be both exciting and frightening, sometimes for you as well as your child. Your feelings will guide your child's emotions. If you approach your child's first days with confidence that they'll be fine, using positive words about school and loving attention, their anxieties will be reduced.
Saying goodbye at school may be very emotional for you, but try to send your child off with a smile and a wave along with the reassurance that you'll be there to collect them or welcome them home later. Remember even distressed children settle very quickly once you're gone, so make your goodbye loving but brief. For your own reassurance, you can ask the teachers what strategies they use to settle the children.
You can help your child by familiarizing him or her with what school is like during the first couple of weeks. Some enjoyable and helpful things you can do include:
• Pointing out the school whenever you pass it.
• Telling stories about what you enjoyed at school and the fun things you did.
• Playing “school” at home, if your child finds it fun, and acting out classroom scenarios with your child.
• Reading positive books about starting school. Good titles include Topsy and Tim Start School by Jean and Gareth Adamson or Starting School by Alan and Janet Ahlberg.
Communicating your confidence in your child’s ability to cope with and enjoy school will go a long way in assuring a good adjustment for you and your child.
Transition Workshop for New Families
Thursday August 23, 9:00am – 10:30am, Founders’ Theater (ES)
The WAB Counselors invite all parents of new students to a transition workshop on Thursday August 23, 9:00am – 10:30am, in the Founders’ Theater. The workshop, entitled “Changing Spaces,” will create the opportunity for new WAB parents to share, discuss and learn about the process of their family’s transition. Interested parents are asked to RSVP to Liz Ma, ES Counseling Secretary at flma@wab.edu or 8456-4155 ext. 1702 by Tuesday August 21.
WS Parent & Counselor Coffee Morning
Friday August 31, 9:00am - 10:00am, MS Loft.
All parents are invited to a coffee morning with WAB counselors on August 31, 9:00am – 10:00am. We will be discussing the topics of transitioning as an adult global nomad, balancing life as an ex-pat, while creating and maintaining friendships. Parents are encouraged to read the suggested article (see link below) which covers the same themes of transitions. Please feel free to bring any questions or comments from the article to share and discuss. http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/24/news/afriends.php?page=1