Off to a slow start

Starting primary school should have been so exciting for your seven-year-old. There are so many new learning opportunities and new children to become friendly with.


But this may be very challenging for him. Swamping his familiar preschool environment for a school full of strangers - and a building that seems huge and mysterious - may be quite demanding.


Fortunately, there are lots you can do to help him through this transition. Here are some suggestions:


Deal with worries when they arise
If your seven-seven year-old does raise a concern with you about something that troubles him, take it seriously. Litsen to what he has to say, and provide guidance as best you can. Your interest reassures him.


Encourage him to discover the entire building
Most pupils, especially the youngest, tend to stay in their own part of the school, and have little opportunity to explore all the other areas. He'll feel more comfortable when he is familiar with every floor.


Ask about his teacher
Your child will be more settled once he has been able to tell you all about her. Let him say what he likes (and perhaps dislikes,too) about his teacher. Always give an optimistic response, even when he is negative about her.


Make sure he uses the loo
Young children are particularly sensitive about toilets, and are often anxious if they are too large or dirty. Check if he hasn't, find out why he is reluctant.


Play with the others
Get to know who his friends are - he'll feel happier much more quickly when he has pals in the class. You can help by asking him to invite one or two or his classmates home to play with him after school.


Be positive about this new phase
Your little one looks to you for guidance - and if you look miserable every time he mentions a concern about Primary 1, then he will feel miserable about it, too. Have a positive attitude towards this next step in his life.


Check it out
You can also help by taking a particular interest in his progress. Chat with him about what he did in school that day. Which children did he play with? How did he get on with his teacher? What did he like best?


Your interest keeps his motivation high, while at the same time you can monitor his progress. Most likely, you'll be pleased to discover that he'll soon make the transition without any real difficult and that he'll start to thrive in Primary 1.


And if you do discover that things aren't going as well as you had hoped, you can help sort out any problem before it turns into a crisis.