About:
In a discussion with a parent, Dr De Gioia offers many ideas for parents to try at home to support their child in being more ready to start school.
Captions:
Music
Anthea: Katey, my son, Robbie is so excited about starting school next year but I’m feeling really nervous. I’m glad that you told me to go and enrol him early because the office lady at the school, when I went there at the beginning of Term 2, said that this was the perfect time to enrol him because they start sorting out the school numbers and the class numbers. They also gave me some information about the school and some things to think about. But, can you explain to me the difference between ‘orientation’ and ‘transition’? Because they’re words that they used and I don’t really understand them. And also can you please just give me any ideas you have for Robbie starting school next year?
Dr Katey De Gioia: Sure, orientation usually involves one or two short meeting sessions for the purpose of providing information to parents about the school and expectations and may include a visit to the classroom for the child. Transition programs usually happen over a longer period of time, for example, a few hours each week for a few weeks in Term 4. Generally children get to explore the school environment and spend time in the classroom. There are opportunities for parents to assist in settling the child into this environment and to meet with each other. Sometimes schools use this time with parents to provide them with information and link them to outside services. You know, Anthea, it’s not unusual that you say that you’re nervous. A lot of parents I speak to think that they are more nervous than their children. Sometimes it’s helpful to talk about this with other parents and you’ll realise you’re not alone. Perhaps you can speak with the teachers at the childcare centre that Robbie attends and see if you can help organise a time for parents with children going to school next year to meet and chat. Or maybe the school will have opportunities for you to chat with other parents at the orientation or transition session. You know transitions are about change and they can be distressing. Remember your own experiences of transition? For example, when you first moved into the neighbourhood and started that new position in the accounting agency? These are big events in our lives and it’s helpful to think about some of the strategies you might have used at these times and perhaps they will also be helpful strategies to use now.
Anthea: That’s a good point. I should actually think about those things and apply some of them now. So, what do you think is the most important thing I should focus on for Robbie starting school?
Katey: The research all shows the importance of children’s social and emotional maturity. That is, their ability to adjust to the new environment with positive feelings. We want children to feel comfortable when they’re at school so that they want to learn. It’s very hard to learn if a child is crying and upset. There are quite a lot of tips I could give you to assist with this. Having Robbie attend childcare is great because he gets to develop friendships with other children and feel comfortable separating from you. You can also take Robbie to the local park on weekends as this gives him an opportunity to mix with other children who are there and negotiate turn taking and develop friendships. I’m sure the school gave you information about transition to school activities that they do later in the year. So, it’s also useful to try and get to these. It may be that he can spend some time in the Kindergarten classroom and you can meet other families too.
Anthea: Yes, they did give me that information and Robbie’s really excited because he’s got a friend from childcare going too.
Katey: That’s great. When you go past the school, point it out to Robbie and ask him what he thinks the children might be doing. Or you can comment on what the children are doing if you can see them in the playground. Talk about how he will be part of the school next year and what happens at school. You can usually look at some great photos and information about the school from their website.
Anthea: One of my friends from last year asked at the orientation for the Kindergarten parents if they could come to an assembly. And the principal said yes and it was on Friday afternoons, so she took along her daughter, Sophia, and they had a great time. They were fascinated by the hall and the awards ceremony and all the children and they had so much to talk about afterwards. And she said she also always paid attention to the noticeboard outside the school. When you drive past you can actually see it. And she said that because of that, she took her daughter to the fair day that they had and they were able to see the school grounds and meet other children and also meet some children that were going to be at the school next year.
Katey: They’re great ideas too. There are easy things you can do at home as well like modelling how to ask questions or giving Robbie a scenario so he can work out what to do. For instance, if he fell over in the playground and hurt his knee, what should he do? Talk about what the school rules might be but remember school is a very different place now from when we were children.
Anthea: Do you know what rules are? You know how we have rules in our house? There’s rules for lots of things. You know, when someone gives you something, you have to say ‘thank you’ …
Robbie: Yeah.
Anthea: … and you can’t go to bed until you put away all your toys?
Robbie: Yeah.
Anthea: And you have to eat your dinner before you can have some ice cream. They’re the rules. At school they’ve got rules too.
Katey: When Robbie starts school, try to get involved. You can find out before he starts about committees or ways that you can help out. I know it can be hard when you’re working but there’s always things you can do. For example, offer to help out with excursions, offer to assist with jobs you can do at home, covering reading books, helping out in the classroom or canteen. Robbie will love seeing you there and this helps build your own understanding of what happens during the day.
Anthea: Thanks so much for that great advice, Katey, I’ll give it a try and let you know how I go. And they’ve got lots of books at big school. You’ll be able to have a different book to read every day because they’ve got a library there at the school. You know how your sister brings home books every week from the library?
Robbie: We’re going to the ship now.
Anthea: That’s right. Music .
Notes: