Starting ‘Big School’
Making the transition easy from Montessori to Primary School
We’re already well into August and those of you who have a child starting primary school in September must be feeling that the time is passing so quickly.
When we think about the preparations for staring our children in school we tend to think of all the practice things, purchasing books and getting them covered, trying uniforms to get the right size, fittings for shoes and hoping they will last more than a couple of months, but the most important preparation we can do is to prepare our child for this big event in their lives.
By now the school has been chosen and you probably know who your child’s teacher will be. If you know any children who will also be staring in the same school it’s a nice idea to have them over for a play date to ensure that your child sees familiar faces on their first day. Even if they won’t have the same teacher they will still see each other in the school yard.
Make sure your child is involved in making choices when it comes to school bags, pencil cases and all the stationary needed to get started. I can still remember bringing my eldest son to Tommy’s to choose his first school bag. He picked a bright orange sparkly hard case. All I could think was he is so going to be picked on if he turns up to primary school with that case. This is where parent’s common sense has to take priority over a child’s preference. I told him he could have the orange, sparkly case for his weekend bag when he is having sleepovers in nana and granddads, but he would need a bag that he can carry on his back for school. Eventually he chose a ‘Superman’ backpack, but the orange case also came home with us and was used as his weekend case, until one day he left it in the driveway and granddad drove over it!! He got over it, eventually. He is 18 now and we still remind him of his bright orange sparkly suitcase.
No matter how you are feeling about your child starting school, and believe me I remember how emotional a time it is, keep those feelings hidden from your child. Express excitement and joy, talk about all the wonderful experiences they will have at primary school, the friends they will make and the fun they will have.
At Tír na nÓg we collect children from the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Huntstown and St Philips in Mountview, Dublin 15. You can call us on 8220515 or check out our website www.tirnanogchildcareandmontessori@gmail.com