How do you best prepare a child for primary school?
The number one goal is to socialize the child and to prepare them to play with other children. Here, we must teach them how to go to school. Starting nursery, they have to say goodbye to their parents for the first time, so try to make it a positive transition from home to school. This prepares them for the nursery-to-pre-school crossover.
What about parents, too?
It’s all about encouragement, and parents should feel secure about their child’s happiness. At home, take the time to boost your child’s self esteem, to be secure in yourself, so that the attachment between parent and child can handle the distance. You can also promote independence in your kids by taking them to playgroups.
Are children going to school at the right age in the UAE?
I think that KG1 admissions here are perhaps a little young: in the US, kids start school at five. For some children, even that’s a struggle. But then again, some three year olds can be very independent, so it depends on the child. It can also be down to the parent, too. Reassurance is vital – the emotional stability of the child is the real factor. Here in the UAE, it’s been great to find that some parents will bring their children in at three-years-old to prepare them for school or if they are taking a part-time job. Nursery is the perfect place to bring them for a half day or three times a week to get them used to being away from mum or dad.
How do you judge a child’s readiness for big school?
Children can look physically ready but not be ready developmentally. In that case, they’re not going to be happy or be able to concentrate. Clinging to the parent after the initial settling-in phase is usually a sign; and a parent not encouraging the child is a worry. The process of a child trusting in his or her environment has to be in place if a child is to settle in school.
Do nursery graduates have an advantage over children who have not had pre-school experience?
They get a very strong foundation if they go to school with a positive school attachment then they are ready to learn. If you compare a pre-schooled child with a child that has never been outside the home, then you are usually going to see a big difference in behaviour. Our philosophy here is: ‘a positive educational engagement equals a positive school attachment equals a bright and happy future.’
Do you think the high demands that are placed on our young children a positive thing?
Nursery school is a very important step. In the US, there have been a lot of studies about developmental processes and overall successes of children who started in nursery/pre-school environments. Strong evidence tells us that the percentage of high school graduates is higher among pre-schooled students. In those formative years, going to nursery promotes a successful transition to kindergarten. In our school, the three to four-year-olds are used to going to an Arabic or music class for 45 minutes. They’re accustomed to different teachers and changing environments. By the time they reach KG1 or reception class, the socialization is already done, and the child should be ready to sit in their chair and learn. Plus, some children respond well to high expectations. In classrooms, you have strong personalities, which can be misread as behavioural problems: sometimes that child may actually be advanced for their age – they need more to entertain them.
What skills do you expect children to take with them to school?
They will have the ability to adapt to different environments and having more than one teacher in the day time. The children are used to routine: it’s been part of their day for up to three years. Just one year spent in a school environment is beneficial – even for basic skills like hand washing and table manners. When a child is used to routine, the teacher can then spend more time with the child academically.
How can parents cope with a child who cannot settle in school?
• Create familiarity, my son was so upset to find that there were no dinosaurs in his KG1 classroom so I packed some toy dinosaurs for him to play with and share with the other children.
• If that doesn’t work, meet with the teacher to see what they can do to help the transition.
• Talk to the child and work to reassure them at home.
• Work with the teacher. Your teacher needs to be your best resource.
