Student Care – The New Year is here and your child is about to embark on the next phase of their lives: graduating preschool and beginning their first day in Primary 1. Yes, it is indeed a pivotal moment for you and your child, but the road can be bumpy and challenging, especially for your little one.
But before you feel like tearing your hair out in frustration, we have some great tips and tricks to help you ease your child’s transition as they enter the most important day of their lives (and yours). Here are some student care tips guaranteed to make your child’s transition as smooth as possible:
Tip #1: Getting a good night’s sleep
One rule of thumb to remember about student care is that the schedule of a primary school student is more hectic that of a preschool student so it can be tough for your child to adjust to the new routine. But not to worry, follow our student care tips and incorporate them into your child’s schedule.
For one, have your child practice going to bed and waking up at the same time daily, this will help your child get sufficient sleep and maintain a good sleep schedule so that they can stay alert throughout the school day.
Tip #2: Helping your child get ready for school
It’s important to help your child get ready for school. The first important student care tip to take note of is to provide a helping hand when your child is packing their school bag.
Show your child how to pack according to their timetable, and be there to help them until they’re able to do it on their own. Once your child is able o pack their own school bags, they will develop a sense of ownership over their belongings as well as be more responsible for the items in their bags such as stationery and workbooks.
Tip #3: Start the day with a nutritious breakfast
As the old adage goes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. To help your child maintain their energy throughout the school day, it’s imperative that they have a good nutritious meal filled with vitamins and nutrients that will fuel them until lunchtime.
For starters, a nice bowl of cornflakes with a side of fruit such as apples, blueberries and kiwi fruit is a good choice for your child. One thing of note is not to provide foods that are too oily or greasy – this will tire your child out and make them lethargic, so try not to overload breakfast with sausages or bacon for instance.
Tip #4: Help your child be more independent
Helping your child to be independent is important to their overall development especially since you’re not always going to be around to pick them up when they are down. Sure, your child will definitely have their teachers and even their friends at school to lend a helping hand, but by learning to do things on their own, they will acquire a sense of responsibility for their own lives.
Encourage your child to gradually wean off always relying on your help and to start taking on tasks on their own. Things likes personal hygiene (e.g. brushing their teeth, washing their hands), going to the toilet, the basics of ordering food from the school canteen and even learning how to approach their teachers for help whenever they’re unsure of what to do.
Tip #5: Practice making friends at school
Moving on to a whole new environment can be very daunting for your child, especially when it comes to making new friends amidst a sea of new faces. It can be undeniably anxiety-inducing, but it doesn’t have to be a chore for your child; sometimes a simple hello can suffice as a conversation starter when meeting new people and the beginning of a new friendship.
You can role play with your child to help them be more comfortable when the real situation arises, for instance incorporating certain phrases such as “Hello, my name is … what is your name?” and “May I please…” for starters. This will definitely help provide more opportunities for your child to foster new relationships with new friends, be more personable and feel relaxed as they learn to be sociable in new student care environments.
Speak to us today to find out more about our 21 student care centres!
Click Here to whatsapp us for a complimentary tour of a centre near you.
