A successful entry into school

Entering kindergarten marks the beginning of a child's excellent adventure in school. This first contact must be pleasant. Indeed, suppose the transition to kindergarten goes well. In that case, the child is more likely to be motivated in school afterward and to do well throughout primary school and even in secondary school.

As a parent, you play a decisive role in supporting your child's good school image. Research shows that parental involvement is key to a child's success and motivation in the classroom.

This begins at birth and continues throughout his school career. For example, you prepare him for school without knowing it by being loving and caring, answering his questions, giving him routines, and developing his autonomy.

Engaged Parent, Motivated Child

When you speak well of school and take an interest in what your child is doing in class, it helps him have a positive attitude towards school. As much as possible, go to parent meetings and some school activities. Your child will see how important school is to you.

Actions to avoid

Of course, you want your child's start of kindergarten to go as smoothly as possible and to feel comfortable in school afterward. But sometimes, without even realizing it, it's possible to do or say things that give the school a wrong impression or increase a child's stress. What to accomplish so that this does not occur? Here are some suggestions to direct you:

• Avoid having too high expectations of your child. Before kindergarten, you can answer her questions about letters and words and draw her attention to the letters in her first name. You can also teach him to count sets of objects. But he doesn't need to know the whole alphabet or know how to trust to 100. Putting pressure on a child to learn things when he's not ready can lead to stress. And a sense of failure. He could lose confidence in his abilities and have less desire to learn. He might even start not wanting to go to school and worrying about disappointing you.
• Don't use school as a threat. For example, avoid saying, "At school, you'll have to listen!" Behavior like that won't last long! This kind of talk gives a bad image of the school. The child may not feel like going to school even before starting kindergarten.
• Do not show your fears or your pain. It's normal to be apprehensive and emotional when your child starts kindergarten, but it's best not to show it. It would just upset him for zero.
• Do not speak ill of the school or the teaching staff. To succeed in school and desire to go there, the child needs to feel that his parents trust the school and the teachers. If you don't agree with something, it's better to make an appointment with your teacher* or with the administration instead of talking about it with your child.

When the parent has terrible memories of school

School may bring back bad memories for you, either because you had learning problems, bad relationships with teachers, or experienced bullying.

However, it is essential not to share your bad memories with your child. If he hears you repeating how much you hated school and didn't like this or that teacher, he might think it will be the same for him. Without even having set foot in his class, he might believe that school is not a pleasant place and that he will not be well there.

For your child, it's a whole new story with school starting. Just because you've been through some rough stuff yourself doesn't mean it will be the same for him. He needs you to get off to a good start! The best thing is to tell your child that you are proud to see him grow up and go to school. You can speak well of school to him by telling him that he will learn all kinds of things and make new friends.

And even if school brings back bad memories, it's essential to go to parent meetings and work with your teacher.

Also Read: The Soft Roots