What Awaits a Child at School

Every child, starting at six or seven years old, goes to school. Exceptions are rare and, for the most part, sad. What awaits the little ones at school? What should they be prepared for? What should you tell them?

First of all, you need to explain to the child that they are now independent. Mom and dad will not be nearby, and the teacher is only a small help. They should make small decisions on their own (for example, which bun to buy for lunch ;-)), think independently, and not wait for your prompts. It is difficult, but possible. If you explain this to the little one, learning will be easier. Of course, some children become independent early, while others, even up to the age of 15, are afraid to put letters into mailboxes by themselves. But you should still try to foster independence.

The second thing to explain is the rules of behavior at school, as well as safety procedures. After all, children enter a new environment—they will have trouble immediately orienting themselves and knowing how to behave. You need to explain that everything in school, whether it's school furniture or a classmate’s pen, should be respected. If the child doesn't understand this, parents will have a hard time: at minimum — calls from the homeroom teacher; at maximum — constantly covering damages.

It's very important to explain safety rules. Even if the walk from home to school takes only about ten minutes, that's no reason for complacency. It may sound absurd, but even the schoolyard can hide dangers: stray animals, reckless drivers. It's good if a parking bollard is installed before the driveway into the yard. But more often there isn't one, or it's simply not used. A child's safety is, of course, above all. There's no need to argue about that. You should explain to the child all the possible nuances of the route to school.

What else? Of course — how to interact with classmates. At first glance this may seem trivial. After all, children usually find common ground within minutes. Yes, often that's true, but not always, unfortunately. All children are different: some may be frightened by new faces, especially in such numbers; others may react with aggression. Anything can happen. So it's better to arm the child with your experience and knowledge than to have to explain things later.

At first glance it seems that going to school is simple, easy, and a celebration. But no. First grade is a time when parents must pay very close attention to their child and explain to them everything that can be explained.