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Don’t force it or rush, there are several psychological signs that your child is not ready for school that parents need to pay attention to. If your little one experiences this, immediately consult and seek professional help, Mother.
Quoted from Romper, there is now increasing evidence showing that preschool has the potential to help improve academic and social skills. However, what if it turns out that your child is psychologically not ready for school?
“Every preschool should be ready for every child,” said Susan Friedman, of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
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According to Friedman, there are various ways children develop. It is also important to remember that not all children are able to develop at the same speed. In a preschool environment, a teacher must be able to individualize what is happening in a way that can reach all children.
Psychological signs that children are not ready for school
Here are some signs that a child may not be psychologically ready to face a major transition, along with examples of solutions that can be tried as reported by various sources:
1. It is still difficult to separate from your parents
Some children have little or no difficulty saying goodbye to their parents and rushing off to class. But others may cry, hug tightly, or even try to run away.
Both reactions are actually normal. Some anxiety and longing for parents is expected early in preschool, and this may last for several weeks.
“There are ways that teachers and parents can use to help children say goodbye. One technique is to ask the child to hold a photo of their family, while the teacher encourages them to join in a class activity,” said Friedman.
If your child hasn’t had much experience being separated from their parents, especially Mom, give them practice a few weeks before school starts by having a babysitter or other trusted adult supervise when you go outside for an hour or two.
2. Have not passed toilet training
By age 3 or 4, most children can use the toilet independently most of the time. Occasional ‘slippage’ may occur, and preschool teachers usually ask parents from the start to leave a change of clothes in the child’s locker.
However, as a precautionary measure, take advantage of the first few weeks before starting school for toilet training.
3. Difficulty following directions
Preschool aged children should be able to respond to simple directions such as ‘sit here’ or ‘put on your jacket and line up at the door’. If this is a problem for your little one, give them more practice in following instructions and completing tasks independently.
4. Easily overwhelmed
Schools are busy places, with lots of kids, noise, and activity. Some children are used to and able to adapt to this kind of hubbub, while others become shy or cry easily.
According to the Child Mind Institute, children with sensory processing problems are highly sensitive and may be vulnerable to busy situations in the preschool environment.
Try introducing your child first to a learning environment that is not too busy, for example a music class or play group. This will help train them mentally to face a busier school.
5. Difficulty mingling with other children
In preschool, children learn and engage in social-emotional skills such as waiting their turn, cooperative play, conflict resolution, and recognizing other people’s emotions. This is not always easy for preschoolers because every child has ‘I don’t want to share’ moments.
However, a child who consistently has difficulty interacting with peers, such as pushing, hitting, biting, grabbing toys, may need more socialization training at home before starting school.
“The school environment is a great way for kids to develop those social skills. But there are experiences kids can do at home to prepare them for school,” Friedman said.
Mothers can plan playtime with their children and set examples of appropriate behavior. For example, practice waiting your turn or saying polite things.
6. Not being able to follow the school schedule
When starting school, children should be able to transition easily by following a predetermined schedule. To make this skill easier for your child, create a predictable schedule at home and establish a routine between activities, such as washing hands before eating or singing a clean-up song after playtime.
To make it easier to adapt in the morning, maybe you need to adjust your little one’s sleeping hours.
7. Not yet able to communicate clearly
A child does not have to be a talkative person to be successful in preschool, but ideally they should be able to express their needs, either through words or gestures.
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, between the ages of 3 and 4, a child’s speech should be intelligible most of the time. They should also be able to construct short sentences and answer simple ‘who-what-where’ questions.
If you are worried about your little one’s communication skills, talk to an expert before enrolling your child in school. Equally important, if your child is being evaluated professionally for language delays, don’t forget to let the school know and ask what strategies they have for teaching students with communication problems.
This is a review of the psychological signs that children are not ready for school. Don’t hesitate to consult with an expert before your child starts school so that his readiness can be maximized, Mother.
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