Sending your child to an educational institution during the preschool period is the most important investment you make in his or her future and in himself. Especially the age range of 3-6 is called the GOLDEN PERIOD. The changes in this period, when the child's identity and personality are shaped and their skills and abilities are recognized and developed, are much faster, greater and more valuable than the changes between the ages of 8-11.
We can summarize the skills gained by pre-school education as follows:
Socially, children learn to share toys, as well as adult attention, sharing food, and conversation. They also learn to resolve conflicts and relationship problems with peers, how and when to protect themselves, and to respect the rights of other children. All of these increase the child's problem-solving skills, which will help him solve all the problems that arise in his future life.
Emotionally, their self-confidence increases as they do their own work, solve their own problems and make some decisions themselves. Seeing that they can stay away from their parents and do something when they are not present increases the child's sense of self-confidence and independence. They also learn to obey the limits and rules required by social living in kindergarten.
Muscle development includes cutting, gluing, painting, using pencils. Fine motor skills develop as a result of regular performance of activities such as using objects. It also uses and develops gross motor functions such as running, jumping, throwing, climbing.
Cognitively, matching objects, classifying, measuring, observing and ideas. Acquires math and science skills such as production. Imagination develops thanks to dramas. Talking with friends and teachers improves language skills. Activities such as examining books, painting and drawing also help the development of early reading and writing skills.
ADAPTATION PROCESS
-Adaptation is the power of an individual to adapt to a new situation in line with his personality characteristics.
- This very special and beautiful period of childhood brings with it some difficulties at the beginning of school. Children from the safest environment of their homes, with their parents They leave their warm arms and habitual routines. For the first time, they try to 'fly with their own wings' and for the first time they stand on their own 'own feet'.
Until the child starts kindergarten, the communication network established within his family affects his whole life and forms the basis of his personality. A child who has just started kindergarten continues to be highly dependent on his or her parents.
'While your child is the PRINCESS of his or her home, he or she starts kindergarten and joins the public.'J
The separation experienced when starting school causes a traumatic situation in the child. While it does not cause any problems, this separation should be called a positive development by the family. - Because separation from the parents generally occurs after the secure attachment period. In other words, it coincides with a developmental period when the child's desire to socialize arises. The child is ready to live in society. He just needs some support.
None of us have a 'magic wand' in this process. However, we have very effective methods:
-Patience
-Love
-Continuity
-Determination
- Consistency
-Encouragement
The adaptation process varies from child to child.
-While some children get through this process in a short time and without any problems, some children get help from their parents and home. has difficulty leaving.
The reasons for this difficulty are;
-Individual differences
-The communication network he established only with his family until he came to school (overprotective and interventionist family attitudes)
-Previous negative experiences
-Differences begin to occur in children's lives
-Change in sleeping hours
-Contact with their parents decrease in the time they spend
-Sharing of Interest
SEPARATION ANXIETY
Starting a pre-school education institution is a great responsibility for the child and encountering unfamiliar emotional states that he/she experiences for the first time and It means being able to deal with them. The most obvious definition of these feelings is "Separation Anxiety".
What Does the Child Feel During This Process?
Will my mother and father come to pick me up?
Will my teacher help me?
What should I do if I am hungry or need to go to the toilet?
This is such a big place, what if I get lost!
-Who are all these kids?
-How will the service know the way to my house?
-Alone here What will I do?
-Will my parents stay with me if I cry?
These anxieties experienced by our child may cause some behavioral patterns that he has not exhibited before;
- Not wanting to get off their parents' lap
-Not letting them leave school by hugging them
-Constantly asking when their mother will come, not wanting to leave the door
-Trying to change clothes, changing their clothes at school resisting quitting
-Not wanting to sleep at school
-Being a spectator without joining the group for a while,
-Preferring individual games,
- Complaining about physical ailments.
Crying may be a kind of defense element that the child uses to get his/her wishes done. (crying should be analyzed well)
Although the adaptation process varies from child to child, there are two types in terms of process and child attitude. It can be examined under the title.
-75-80% of children exhibit resistance behaviors such as reluctance, restlessness, crying, etc. when they start a pre-school education institution. These are the expected, hoped-for and extremely healthy reactions. Their adaptation is strong and complete.
- 3-5% of children start a pre-school education institution very easily and willingly and continue thus. In the remaining group of 20, the child looks very comfortable. He comes to the nest willingly and suddenly experiences a strong rejection. The picture of the most difficult child and the most confused parent is also in this group. Children love-based communication; Families can overcome this difficult process with determined and consistent behavioral methods.
The Adaptation Process consists of 3 stages;
1) HONEYMOON PERIOD: It is a first two-week process. The child is curious in this process. And he tries to explore the surroundings.
2) RECOGNITION AND ADAPTATION PERIOD: It is a process of approximately 2 months. The child enters the classroom, follows school routines, comes and goes to school at certain times, etc. situations. It is a challenging but also important and valuable process.
3) ACCEPTANCE AND FEELING OF BELONGING PERIOD: It starts approximately 2.5-3 months after the child starts to sleep. The child shows his true personality. Teacher et al Establishes secure relationships of loyalty with his/her namesakes. He/she feels a part of his/her group and school.
THE FEELINGS FELT BY PARENTS
Having a child start school is a brand new experience for families and causes some anxiety.
*Early. Am I making a mistake by sending them to school at an early age?
*Will my child be able to make friends?
*Is this the right place for him/her?
*Will they get along with their teacher and love each other? ?
*I wonder if my child is crying at school?
*Are their cleaning and food needs fully met?
I feel guilty for leaving my child crying! Am I doing it right?
Great Expectations, Great Disappointment
Parents, in line with their expectations, see in their children, from the moment they start kindergarten:
- Suddenly positive changes and developments,
- They expect him to leave them without any problems or crying,
-He expects him to participate in all activities from the first day,
-He expects him to start school harmoniously.
RECOMMENDATIONS
So how should parents behave and what should they do during the adaptation process?
-Be sure. Show your child that you are a determined and confident parent with love. Remember, the more trust you have, the more trust your child will have.
-Spend more quality and intense times with him/her than before.
-Do not ask questions about school at the beginning. This might bother him. Don't worry, he will tell you when he feels ready.
-Use positive sentences: Instead of saying 'don't cry at school, it will make me sad', say 'have a happy day at school'.
-Avoid negative messages when dropping off your child. stop. Make sure that you give the right messages not only with your words but also with your body language and facial expressions.
-When leaving your child at home, keep the moment of separation as short as possible. Extending the time will cause your child, who does not want to leave you, to become more upset and cry, and to extend this period even more the next day.
-Use short, clear sentences as much as possible when talking to your child.
-So that he can start the day happily. Remember that a good and quality sleep is more effective than you think.
-Your child's school life It is very important that he comes regularly and on time so that he enjoys his time and can keep up with the natural flow of the program. Parents should make sure that he/she is at school at 09:30 at the latest.
-We must indicate when we will return in terms that he/she can understand (after breakfast, after lunch, when he/she wakes up from sleep, etc.) and we must act accordingly.
p>
-Approaches such as intimidation should never be used. (If you do this, your teacher will be angry with you.)
-We must empathize, understand his feelings and allow him to express himself.
-It is very important to be determined and consistent and for the mother and father to agree. .
-Being at home to greet the child during the hours he/she returns home (at least in the first weeks if the mother is also working), preparing small surprises, highlighting what the child can do and reinforcing his/her positive aspects (Well done….. you can do it so well now. You can see that he/she has grown up). It's nice to see.)
As a society, we do not like separation and we worry more about our crying child when we leave it in the arms of our teacher. By changing our perspective; You should understand that this is an empowering experience for both of you, and I think it will make things easier to know that soon your child will run to his friends and happily walk towards you, holding his teacher's hand at nursery pick-up time.
Read: 0
