As you think of letting your kid join a preschool, your mind will be occupied with a million concerns like “Will my child be safe in the school?”, “Will he/she like it”, “Will help/she be ok without me being there” etc. Many parents face infant separation anxiety while dropping off their tiny tots at preschool. Joining a preschool may pose a few doubts and concerns in the minds of children as well as the parents. However, as parents, it is your responsibility to help them overcome these following fears.
Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety in preschool is one of the most prevalent issues that parents and teachers have to tackle during the early education years of children. It’s a big step that a child takes when they leave the safe and familiar environment of their home and enter an entirely new space where they are not accompanied by their parents or primary caregivers. It’s only natural that they fear separation from parents, feeling intimidated by the new building, teachers and other children. They may feel all alone and anxious about not having a protective presence around them or the confidence or freedom to do what they like.
As a parent, you need to first acknowledge their fear. Then, try diffusing that fear by asking them about the things that they are scared of. When you hand them over to a teacher, reassure them that they are going to protect them and you will be able to take them home after some time. If they still have the fear of leaving you behind, give them one of your belongings that they can take to preschool. This can initially provide children with a sense of safety, and over time, they can gradually be weaned off from this process. This will provide them with a sense of safety during the initial days. Once they get used to the new environment, they can be weaned off this process.
Socialising
Children can be curious about having many children of their age around them at the preschool. While some of them approach their peers without any inhibitions, others may choose to be watchful at first. If your child is introvert by nature is introvert by nature, he/she might need your support , they might need your support to socialise in preschool.
Make sure that your child gets to experience loving and respectful interactions at home. It will give them a template for establishing and maintaining good relationships. Allow them to interact and play with other children in the neighbourhood, thus helping them overcome the feeling of social anxiety. This way, your child will come across as friendly to their peers and slowly start building good bonds with other children at preschool and slowly start making friends in the school.
Adjusting to the New Environment
Your child is used to the safety of life within the four walls of the home. The new environment of the preschool might be alien to them. So, they are likely to feel strange and uncomfortable in the new space at least during the initial days of preschool. Singing praises of the preschool might not be enough to help them overcome that fear and discomfort.
Encourage them to speak about what they miss about the home while being at the preschool. Understand that what seems easy to you might not be easy for them and so, be patient to listen to their experiences. Reassure them as much as you can and give them the time to settle down.
Working in a Group
Collaboration with peers is another one of the crucial challenges in preschool that they need to overcome. Socially anxious children might have difficulties in joining other children for group activities. This will lead them to feel sad, lonely and isolated from having shared and fun experiences.
Parents need to teach children about the values of sharing and caring for others at home. As a result, they will try to reflect those values during their interactions with other children. This way, they will not find trouble in sharing their toys or understanding others’ needs. Children will be excited to interact and play with the ones who are kind-hearted.
Difficulty in Communicating
Some children may find it hard to voice out their feelings or opinions during interactions in the classroom. Since they are fluent in their mother tongue, some of them may face difficulties while conversing in English. But, they need to communicate their needs to feel secure at the preschool.
While encouraging them to learn and communicate in English, ensure that the school allows them to speak their mother tongue till the time they learn the new language. At home, teach them new words in English and appreciate their efforts in attempting to speak the language.
For children, preschool is the first step in exploring the world on their own. Many challenges like the fear of separation and socialising, and other preschool behavioural issues can come in the way of them having fun at school. As a parent, it is your responsibility to help them overcome these challenges and look forward to the exciting experiences at preschool. While looking for a preschool that can help you in this process, consider Vishwajyot Preschool to help your child transition from home context to school context in a smooth manner.
