Preparing the baby for school. Do you know how to properly prepare your child for school? The child must be ready for certain actions
In recent years, the question of how to properly prepare a child for school has become far from idle. The program has changed, and so has the rhythm of life. But parents of preschoolers have no idea what awaits their children at school. Most parents are convinced that it is at school that a child must be taught absolutely all skills, “fill” his head with knowledge and accustom him to order and discipline. But today the requirements are such that the child must come to school with quite a lot of “baggage”. Otherwise, he will have to cope with a load significantly greater than the school curriculum. And this is especially true if the child did not attend kindergarten.
So what is preparation for school? It’s not easy - they brought him on September 1 and handed him over to the teacher. No. A child’s readiness for school can be assessed by a number of skills that a future first-grader should master before the first of September.
Let's look at the baby's skills when entering 1st grade. This is like a private recommendation to a parent.
By the age of seven, a child should have a trained memory: he should know rhymes, counting rhymes, all letters (or better yet, read syllables). He must be able to ask questions, answer questions, compose a coherent story based on the picture and retell the text read to him.
Pay special attention to how your child pronounces sounds. If you have speech impediments, contact a speech therapist. Otherwise, the habit of both speaking and writing with errors will become “second nature”: “What I hear is what I write.” Relearning during the school year will take much more effort and time than learning the correct sound right away.
Physiological
The main thing is fine motor skills: a future first-grader must be able to fasten and unbutton buttons on clothes, tie shoelaces, independently handle a fork and spoon, and hold them correctly. Then he will master writing quickly. Everything is very interconnected.
Fine motor skills are developed by activities such as sorting through cereals, beans, modeling from plasticine and helping you in the kitchen with dough, cutting and gluing appliqués, Legos and other construction sets. The better developed fine motor skills, the better the baby’s brain works, the higher his thinking abilities.
Coordination of movements is developed by outdoor games: jumping rope, catching and dribbling a ball, badminton, etc. Next is posture. If it is correct, the child will withstand 40 minutes of the lesson without much stress on the body. If not, then this time will be spent not on mastering the material, but on the child finding a comfortable position at the desk. If your baby has poor posture, go to your family doctor for a referral to a surgeon. Therapeutic exercises and other preventive measures will help avoid spinal curvature.
Emotional-volitional
This is the child's willingness to follow established rules despite his wishes and the ability to regulate his behavior. As well as the ability to evaluate oneself and others, one’s own and others’ actions. What helps to acquire these skills is not endless prohibitions “you can’t, don’t touch, don’t do”, but board and other games with rules: dominoes, checkers, “hide and seek”, “tag”, as well as drawing and modeling.
Social readiness
This is the ability to interact with peers and adults other than parents - school staff, the ability to be (without parents) and obey the demands of a “stranger” adult (teacher), to be and act in a team (class), to know and comply with the norms of social behavior.
In kindergarten, this skill is instilled in public events: walks, matinees, concerts and shows, where there are people who are strangers to the child - parents of other children, administration representatives, etc.
Pedagogical readiness
This is the child's desire to go to school. By the way, it immediately reveals the family’s attitude towards school, because the child usually “reflects” the parents.
In addition, the future schoolchild must know his and his family members’ first and last names, home address and telephone number, be able to navigate time (what time is it, season) and space (left, right, top, bottom), distinguish and name colors, count to 20 and vice versa, also solve simple problems on “+1” and “-1”. For example, there were 2 apples, they gave (took) one. How much is there (remaining)? Must be able to combine objects or characteristics into groups and separate out unnecessary ones that do not belong to the group.
Today there is no “pre-literary” education at school– letters and sounds are studied in the preparatory group of a kindergarten or in a group of 6-year-olds at school.
It's the same with the words. Therefore, if your child does not have this knowledge, both he and you will have to make a lot of effort so that he does not fall behind.
Of course, the class teacher, the after-school teacher, and the school psychologist will help him, but it is better if this work has already been completed and the skills are consolidated in the preschool period. To avoid overload.
Responsibility and discipline
The child must be prepared for the fact that his studies are his work, the “payment” for it is marks for knowledge, and this is his “contribution” to your family. A school is an institution that “lives” by rules that must be followed by everyone without exception.. These rules are “labor discipline”.
A lesson is a time of knowledge and silence, when you need to listen carefully yourself and not interfere with others listening to what the teacher says. You can ask something by raising your hand. Conversations and games are allowed during recess and after class.
Remember that you and your child’s teacher are partners in his upbringing; you have common goals and objectives.
But the teacher’s function is to give your child knowledge, and not to fill the “gaps” of the education he did not receive at home.
How to properly prepare your child for school. New daily routine
The daily routine is an important mechanism for a child’s adaptation to school.. A “kindergarten” child will not have any special problems with the “work and rest” regime, because he is already accustomed to going to bed and getting up early. And “home” children may have to create a “home schedule” for meals, walks and rest, homework, evening toilet and going to bed. And carefully and strictly follow it, so that the child gets involved in his new life, gets enough sleep and does well in his subjects.
Remember!
Only a well-rested, calm and healthy child can master educational material.
Any lack of sleep is stress, it is very harmful to the child’s health and academic performance, because it always causes an overload of all body systems. The child “processes” and assimilates the knowledge acquired during the day in his sleep. If he sleeps less than 10 hours, the material is not absorbed and a “gap” is formed.
By the way, the “mode” is not canceled on weekends either! Yes, you want to sleep for a week, relax in bed, forgetting about everything and everyone. But “school time” will require steely endurance and “angelic” patience from you. When the child grows up and becomes more independent, the daily routine will become a “conditioned reflex”, and you will be able to “relax”.
Warn the teacher
If your child has impaired vision or hearing, or has diseases of the nervous system (for example, epilepsy), this data must be entered into the medical record and reported to the class teacher. In the first two cases, to seat the child at one of the first desks, and in the second, so that in case of an attack, be ready to provide him with first aid and prevent a stress reaction in the rest of the children in the class.
Important!
Children with disabilities (for example, with cerebral palsy) can also study in a regular school.
School psychologists and teachers conduct special conversations with students. But it won’t be superfluous to have a conversation with your child about how to behave and what is unacceptable in communicating with such children.
Two most important rules for a parent of a schoolchild:
- Don't do for your child what he can do for himself..
- Teach your child to do everything on his own.
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Children reach an age when they complete one phase of their development and smoothly move into another - from kindergarten to primary school. Childhood does not end there, but a certain amount of responsibility appears and begins.
Preparing a child for school - mental processes
If a child has well-developed cognitive processes (memory, thinking, speech, imagination, attention, perception), a well and correctly developed emotional sphere (the desire to learn new things, cheerfulness, activity, sociability and other positive emotions), then such a child will not experience difficulties in the first grade of school.
For him, this transition from kindergarten to primary school will be painless and educational, contributing to a surge of new emotions and impressions. Moreover, the first skills of the educational process are already laid down in kindergarten, such as reading, writing, and the ability to count.
Big problems arise for future first-graders who are inattentive and do not show interest in learning, and they are only growing every year.
Information for parents - children who are not adapted to adaptation, who flounder in lessons, skip classes, run away from lessons on their own, become “hooligans and losers”, their development begins to lag behind the general level, the desire to learn completely disappears, and personality degradation as a whole occurs.
Already in the older groups of kindergarten, parents should show interest in the child’s knowledge.
The responsibility of parents is to prepare the child for school, help him master the assigned materials, teach him to play the role of a senior assistant, and not just the role of father and mother, or educators, or even worse, an overseer. Not only children, but also their parents should prepare for school.
The sooner parents of first-graders begin to understand that their child is growing, the better they can prepare him for school. But you should not concentrate on some subjects of study and forget about others - education should be general developmental.
Often first-graders enter school with such knowledge that it is already possible to send the child straight to the third grade, but then this same child has problems with physical functions or absent-mindedness, there are children who are physically developed like astronauts, but are not mentally prepared for school.
There are children with whom no one has ever worked with a complete lack of interests, physical and intellectual development.
It is best for the child’s perception that help from parents is provided in a playful way; this will help children learn the materials and strengthen family relationships; the child will more easily adapt to the school curriculum.
It is necessary to diagnose future first-graders in advance, using the services of a psychologist or teacher, in order to identify the child’s strengths and weaknesses, his attitude to learning, to school, and to identify fears and preferences in subjects.
It is better to conduct classes with children about twice a week, without overtiring the child, and it is advisable that he is not distracted by anything extraneous. The child himself must see the motivation of the parents, that you want to help him, that you are friendly and kind to him, and that you are not doing it because it is necessary through force, with a tired, hungry and sleepy look from work.
You should not be categorical in checking tasks; it is better to give time for it to be completed, and then praise the child based on the results of completion. The speed of completing tasks is an individual quality of the child; maybe he is just slow, or maybe he doesn’t yet understand the essence of the task and how to solve it quickly enough.
If the child is overtired, then it is worth taking a break and performing simple physical exercises that help restore physical and mental abilities, you can take a walk in the fresh air.
If the child makes a mistake, then you need to let him finish the task and invite him to check the work himself. When he himself cannot find the mistake, he needs to indicate where the child did it wrong. And under no circumstances should you insult his pride, don’t say or think that the child is a loafer, mediocrity or something different. This will have a negative impact on the child and his mental state.
According to many parents, and rightly so, a child should be ready for school physically, intellectually, psychologically and emotionally.
Physical fitness includes perseverance, the ability to hold your head straight without fatigue and neck pain, the development of fine motor skills, general physical development of muscles, developed coordination of movements and hand-eye coordination, dexterity, accuracy of movements.
Intelligent Readiness future first-graders represent an accumulated store of knowledge, a desire to learn new things, developed observation, imagination, curiosity, developed speech, thinking, and memory. The child must be able to ask questions correctly and understand the answers received.
Psychologically, a child is prepared when he strives to communicate with adults and peers, wants to be in society, knows how to act collectively, is efficient and follows established rules.
Emotional readiness future students are the ability to show their emotions, behavior, the ability to organize order around themselves, the desire to overcome difficulties and achieve results, the joy of looking forward to studying, and the absence of low self-esteem.
It is very important for parents from early childhood to develop fine motor skills in future first-graders, which contributes to the development of beautiful handwriting when learning to write at school.
To do this, we ask parents that the child engage in creativity, various manipulations with small objects, learn to dress and undress independently, tying shoelaces, fastening and unbuttoning buttons and locks, games with a ball, with various construction sets and mosaics are useful.
Children need to play various educational games appropriate to their age.
Do we need to prepare preschool children for school?
In my opinion, it is very necessary, not only for children, but also for their parents.
Preparing a child for school should begin long before the time when the child goes to school, one might say, from the moment he first crosses the threshold of kindergarten. But the most active preparation of a child for school should be carried out in the senior group.
The goal of preparing for school is to develop cognitive motivation, interest in school, and in reading.
A school preparation system is being created in a preschool institution.
It has become a good tradition on the first of September to take older children on an excursion to school.
Preschoolers receive information about why knowledge is needed and think about whether they need to know their native language. In the afternoon there is usually musical entertainment “Journey to the Land of Knowledge”.
In the first week of September, the test “What do I know about school” is administered. This test is also carried out at the end of the school year to compare children's answers.
During the school year, from time to time, teachers talk to children about school, talk about lessons, and teach rules of behavior at school. The first grades of the school are often located at the institution, and preschoolers watch with interest the life of first-graders.
Groups hold joint sporting events with first-graders. Pupils visit the classrooms, where they try themselves in the role of a schoolchild: they sit at a desk, write on the board, leaf through an ABC book.
All this creates a good, positive attitude towards school and expands children's knowledge.
Preschoolers also visit the school library and observe physical education and labor training lessons.
In the older groups of the garden, corners are created for conducting the role-playing game “School”, where there is a schoolgirl doll, a blackboard, notebooks, pencils, a class magazine, and letters. This allows children to consolidate knowledge acquired during conversations and excursions to school through games.
Teachers conduct cognitive and motivational sets of classes “I want to go to school,” which not only encourage preschoolers with new educational activities, but also develop cognitive processes and communication abilities.
Preparing a child for school with the participation of parents
Preparing a child for school is impossible without the participation of parents. Every year an open day “Soon to school” is held for them. At a meeting with parents, specialists are invited: an educational psychologist, a speech pathologist, who tells parents about the peculiarities of their children’s language training, gives advice on how to replenish their children’s vocabulary, and how to teach them to speak correctly.
The head of physical education shows parents exercises for developing correct posture and talks about the physical training of preschoolers.
Some kindergartens operate a correspondence school for future first-graders, thanks to which parents expand their pedagogical knowledge on the topics “When to start preparing a child for school”, “How to develop elementary mathematical concepts in preschoolers”, “How to help master reading and writing”, “How to choose a book” for a preschooler who is starting to read”, “How to form a positive attitude towards school”, etc.
On the preschool website, almost every group has its own page. For students in older groups, teachers post assignments for additional preparation for school.
By completing these tasks, children not only develop their intellectual abilities, but also have fun and useful time with their parents. At the end of the school year, a parent meeting is held, to which the primary school teacher is invited. He gives useful tips and recommends exercises that can be done with children during the summer holidays.
Today's preschool children will cross the threshold of school with smiles in a year. Our children will know that studying at school is serious work, but at the same time it is an exciting journey into the land of knowledge!
Test “What do I know about school”
1. What is a school? (The school is a large, beautiful house with classrooms, a gym, a library, a dining room, and a medical office. Children study at school.)
2. What is a lesson? (This is the time when children learn something new, listen to the teacher’s explanation, the answers of students performing various tasks and do not leave the classroom.)
3. How do you know when it’s time to start the lesson? (The bell rings, the corridors empty, the children go to class.)
4. What is the name of the table at school where children write? (Desk.)
5. What is the highest grade in school? (The highest grade is “A.” It is awarded to attentive and hardworking children.)
6. What is a school diary? (This is a special notebook where the class schedule, homework assignments are written, and where the teacher gives grades.)
7. What is change? (This is free time between classes.)
8. What is it for? (It is needed in order to prepare for the next lesson, leave the classroom, play, eat.)
9. Do children of the same age or different age study at school? (Miscellaneous. The youngest of them are first graders. The oldest are in 11th grade.)
10. Where and what does the teacher write when explaining the task? (On the blackboard with chalk.)
11. How to attract the teacher’s attention when you need to ask something in class? (Silently raise your hand so that it can be seen.)
If the children answered correctly:
* for questions 1-3 - it is necessary to pay a lot of attention so that children receive the necessary information about school;
* for 4-6 questions - it is necessary to introduce them to the school in more detail;
* for 6-10 questions - not bad, but it wouldn’t hurt to talk or read more about the school.
Preparing children for school is the foundation for future success. This is a crucial period in the life of not only a child, but also every parent. Primary school represents a turning point in the development of a small personality. The routine and rhythm of life changes, responsibility for one’s actions appears, small but first responsibilities appear. All this generally causes stress for the child, and how he copes with it largely depends on proper preparation. Coral Family specialists know how to organize an unforgettable family vacation and help you get ready for school.
What does school readiness mean?
Preparing a child for school consists of three components:
Social – the ability to adapt in society;
. intellectual - basic reading, writing, counting skills;
. emotional - the child’s readiness to be independent and responsible.
In most cases, only the intellectual component is tested. Communication skills, as well as emotional readiness, remain “overboard.” However, psychologists never tire of repeating that it is the social “maturity” of a preschooler that promises him success in learning. In order for children to successfully “gnaw the granite of science,” they must be emotionally comfortable at school.
The main goal of primary school is to teach children to count, write and read. A logical question arises: why then teach all this to a child before 1st grade? As educators say, basic skills provide the necessary foundation for their successful mastery. It's no secret that different children need different amounts of time to memorize the same material. The school program is aimed at the intermediate level. In order for all children to keep up with the given pace, preschool preparation is necessary.
The next component is the child’s ability to communicate, express his thoughts, and contact society. Psychologists place such preparation in first place. A child who can write and read, but does not adapt well to a team, will always be a “black sheep.” That is why it is important that children attend kindergartens, development centers or clubs before going to school. Only by being in a team does a child learn to build relationships and acquire the necessary communication skills.
How can parents prepare their child for school?
Many parents are concerned about the question: is it possible to prepare their child for school on their own? Psychologists and teachers do not give a definite answer, because there are many examples of successful children who were educated at home. However, there are great risks in developing communication skills. There is no need to completely abandon kindergarten or preschool. Even parents with the necessary teaching skills cannot replace their child’s communication with peers.
If the child does not attend kindergarten for some reason, preparation must be organized at home and additionally attend special courses. Psychologists advise integrating a child into the team as early as possible. Ideally from 3-4 years old. To begin with, these could be various creative clubs, and a little later - developmental groups for preschoolers. The cost of courses depends on the intensity of the training program. Basic intellectual skills help develop individual lessons with a tutor. With the help of computer technology, they can be carried out online.
Home activities
1. Learning is like a game. Teachers and psychologists recommend starting your first lessons in a playful way. There is no need to immediately put your child in front of a notebook or a book. Start counting while walking or playing: “let’s count the cubes,” “let’s find out how many crows are sitting on the tree,” and so on. It is also advisable to start learning letters in familiar everyday situations, for example, while going to the store. The task of parents is to interest the child in the learning process.
2. Mini-lessons. The first lessons should last no more than 15 minutes.
3. Gingerbread method. You need to praise your child not only for correct answers, but also for his desire to learn. Encourage and motivate the thirst for knowledge with pleasant bonuses: “Let’s read now and then watch a cartoon.” Never scold or punish your child if he refuses to read or fails at something.
4. Change of activity. It is important to remember that children have extremely flexible psyches. Sitting still for 15-20 minutes is difficult for them, not to mention not useful. Alternate reading or writing classes with active games, physical activity, mathematics with drawing, etc.
5. Repetition is the mother of learning. Do not move on to new material until the baby has mastered the previous one. After starting new “lessons”, return to what you have learned. Practice repetition not only during lessons. For example, while walking, ask your child to remember the multiplication table.
6. Use hands-on activities. Children do not learn material well in theory, so everything new is supported by practice and visualization. Choose books with bright illustrations and use practical material.
7. Modern school. Select educational material in accordance with the current school curriculum.
Math lessons
Counting and basic mathematical operations develop children's thinking and logic. It is imperative to practice your math lessons at home. Here are tips for organizing such training:
. Start counting familiar objects in a playful way: candies, fruits, toys. Gradually switch to special cards and counting sticks.
. Learn addition and subtraction techniques using objects as an example: 5 apples + 1 = 6 apples, 2 candies - 1 candy = 1 candy. Mandatory visualization.
. Study geometry subjects by example of familiar objects and while drawing them.
. Turn examples into a fun game.
Writing lessons
At school, children write quite a lot, so it is important to prepare the baby’s hand for stress.
. Start your writing lessons with 5-minute lessons, gradually increasing the time to 15-20 minutes.
. Train your brush by drawing objects, first according to a template, then on your own.
. Develop fine motor skills from the age of 2: modeling from plasticine, soft dough, sorting through cereals, cutting along the contour.
. Start learning to write with printed letters.
. Do finger exercises.
Reading lessons
Learning letters and reading is the basis for developing a child’s vocabulary and ability to communicate. Only then can you move on to studying other subjects when the baby learns to read.
. Start reading by studying the letters of the alphabet: show the letters on signs, sculpt them from plasticine, draw them.
. Create associations with letters, use comparisons: D - house, O - window.
. Reinforce learning a letter by searching for it.
. Teach your child to retell the text he read, repeat the words of the characters, train his memory.
Creativity lessons
If a child does not attend creative clubs, it is necessary to engage in creativity at home every day.
. Teach how to properly use paints, pencils, markers, and crayons.
. Buy coloring books.
. Practice drawing, sculpting, appliqué.
. Teach how to prepare a workplace and then clean it.
Tell us what priorities he will receive as a schoolboy: he will communicate with children, become independent, be an “adult,” and so on.
. Chat with your child about his school years, remember your teachers, read school stories. The child must understand that learning is an obligatory stage in his life.
. Be interested in the opinion of your son or daughter, let him defend his point of view.
. Play “School”, play out various moments: speaking in front of the board, reciting a poem, let the child be the teacher.
. Teach from an early age to finish everything you start.
. Teach independence in actions and decisions.
. Simulate conflict situations and find solutions together.
You can check how psychologically and intellectually a child is ready for school using special pedagogical techniques. They are used when testing preschoolers during interviews. See the video for an example of such a test.
To school, as if on a holiday
A child will be happy to go to first grade if he is not only prepared, but also set up. Parents often make mistakes, after which children face disappointment and loss of interest in learning. Coral Family specialists have prepared a diagram on how to avoid this.
What not to do?
1. You should not prepare your child for school in the last summer. Don't form negative associations with the learning process before it even begins.
2. Don't promise that school will be the best time of your life. Let the baby decide for himself.
3. Do not convey your excitement. The child reads the anxiety and emotional state of the parents.
4. Don’t let the preparation process take its course. Check and monitor readiness, even when the child attended kindergarten or preparatory courses.
What to do?
1. Increase the child's status. Make the event joyful and positive. Congratulations on the new stage of life.
2. Organize a school shopping spree. Go to the store with your child and buy everything you need for school. Let him choose his own backpack or pencil case.
3. Get used to the new regime 2-3 weeks before the start of the school year. Wake up and put your child to bed, gradually reducing the time by 5-10 minutes from the usual schedule.
4. We discuss the responsibilities that the child will face at school. Preparing homework or attending after-school activities should not be a surprise.
5. Strengthen immunity. Fresh air, physical activity, active games and vitamins are the best companions for a future schoolchild. Start preparing your body 1.5 months before September 1st.
1. Motivate learning. Children lose interest in school after about a month: the peak of activity passes, the adaptation period ends, and fatigue appears. An interesting holiday is an effective motivation. For example, instead of the first lesson, go for a hot chocolate or take him to an amusement park on the weekend. As a result, the student is happy again and skips to school.
2. Give permission to not go to school sometimes. Children, like adults, need a break. 2-3 days of an extraordinary day off will not change your academic performance, but school will not be an “overwhelming burden.” Spend your day off together doing a useful and interesting activity (going to the theatre, circus, park). This will be much more useful than a child coming up with a version of how to “procantor” during lessons.
3. Take an interest in your child's school life. Attend classes more often, prepare homework together. Build trust.
4. Don’t burden yourself with additional activities. In the first six months of school, a first-grader should not attend additional clubs and sections, except for sports.
5. Don't scold for the first bad grades. Support the student in his endeavors and do not make good grades the primary goal of learning.
6. Help us catch up with the “excellent” students. Do not force your child into the status of a “C” student from the first grades. If something doesn’t work out, pay more attention to the subject, seek help from a teacher or tutor.
7. Mitigate school stress. Do not burden your child with household chores and responsibilities, at least in the first months of school. Don't scold him if he forgot to wash the dishes after himself.
8. Time relax. The break between classes should be two hours. However, this is not the time for personal reading or playing on the computer. The student should spend his rest time in the fresh air playing active games.
9. Proper sleep and good nutrition. Routine is the basis of learning. Do not force your child to sit for lessons beyond the norm, even if he did not have time to do something. You can't prioritize learning over sleep.
10. Communication in a team. Allow your child to stay in the company of classmates after school. If possible, invite children home. Communication with peers is necessary for the development and formation of a student’s personality. If a child has no friends and does not communicate with anyone, there is a reason to make an appointment with a psychologist.
