That nightmare school: the intricacies of preparing first-graders and more

“It so happens that not only other people’s children, but also their own, suddenly grow up. How is it? Yesterday I was the whole world to my baby and my baby was loving and safe in the process of learning. And all of a sudden, this world is abruptly expanded to the size of the universe – interesting, but so unfamiliar and frightening. School… How is he without me? Can he find common ground with his classmates and teacher? Will it be successful? In a word, shock, fear, guard!” As Carlson used to say: “Calm, only calm!”The main thing is to approach the inevitable with a cool head and have a clear plan of action. You can do it, too. So, what a mom of a schoolchild should know? Let’s get to.

Five important skills

Inna Fedorova, director of Family Education Center “Growing Together” New York . Ufa , names the most popular misconception: if a child can read, it’s already time for him to go to school. In fact there are other, more important skills which are useful to acquire before school. What?

– Keeping track of your belongings, finding and recognizing them, neatly putting them in your briefcase or on a shelf, folding your shoes yourself, hanging your clothes on a hanger, etc.d. This can also include the ability to change clothes and change shoes.

– Not to be afraid to tell elders about your problem, to realize that your own physiological comfort comes first – to be warm but not hot, not to be thirsty or to pee, not to be hurt to sit on a chair in case there is a nail , not to be hurt by a neighbor at school, etc.d.

– Protecting your own privacy and respecting the privacy of others: “Yes, my freedom ends where my neighbor’s nose begins, but my nose and other body parts are inviolable.

– To absorb information, to strive to learn new things, and to treat learning as an exciting process. These skills are more important than how fast you can read or count.

– Appreciate your work and your achievements, treat difficulties positively and constructively as an opportunity to become a better person.

Lifehack from Inna Fedorova: “Studying at the school preparatory school will help to get used to school, to a class, to make friends with classmates. Training in educational centers makes sense if the classes develop general academic skills, train memory, attention, and the ability to listen and hear”.

Five causes of “school” diseases

At such a young age, the body is actively growing and changing at a cosmic rate, and stress often leads to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, to poor vision. Scoliosis is the most common problem of schoolchildren. Let’s deal with the main reasons.

* The mistakes in the daily regimen. During the day, it is important to change from intellectual to physical activities. Help channel the inexhaustible energy of your favorite energizer into constructive ways. Pediatricians consider optimal physical activity

Morning calisthenics, swimming, dancing, ball games, and table tennis. Your baby needs at least nine hours of sleep. Teach him to go to bed and get up at the same time between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.

# Wrong mattress #. According to pediatric orthopedists, to effectively support the spine, you need a flat surface without pits or a hammock effect. After all, at the desk, the immature curves of the spine and so

are under a lot of strain! The optimal choice is a firm mattress of medium hardness made of hypoallergenic material with the right degree of support. For example, IQ Sleep Exo made of high-density foam.

* Carrying heavy backpacks and bags on one shoulder. When buying a backpack, consider the following requirements: height – 30-36 cm, width of the straps – at least 4-4,5 cm, orthopedic back, weight with textbooks – no more than 3 kg.

* Sitting in a wrong posture. The ideal posture is as follows: the three lines back, hip, elbow and knee bends are at right angles, the base of the chair is shorter than the hip, the lower back rests against the base of the chair and the upper part of the back rests against the backrest, the feet rest on the floor with the whole foot, the textbook is on a stand at a 45 degree angle. When buying a desk and chair it is better to pay attention to models which grow together with the child.

* Poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency. It is desirable to feed a schoolchild at certain hours and eliminate unhealthy snacks. Replace flour and sweets with dried fruit, fresh fruit and vegetables. Eliminate chips, fizzy drinks, fast food, fried foods. In the diet, be sure to have foods containing calcium and vitamins A, E, PP, F, and C. And don’t forget healthy drinks for the immune system, like linden tea with honey.

Lifehack: how to reduce strain on the eyes. In class every half hour, ask your child to do eye exercises: draw a circle, squeeze your eyes tightly shut for three to five seconds, look up and down, right and left, look out the window through the dot glued to the glass. Each exercise is repeated 10 times.

Five rules of psychological adaptation

According to consulting psychologist Alla Shainova, parents of first graders often mistakenly expect their children to obey the commands of teachers, sit still and write accurately, and are very worried when this does not happen. How to make the start of the school year easier?

* Be patient. Don’t forget that your baby is a complete lifestyle changer. He’ll have to endure four or five classes in a row, clubs or after-school activities, build relationships with teachers and classmates. It is a very high stress, which may even lead to illnesses. Help him, give him time to adjust, and never take it out on your child if you receive reprimands from teachers.

* Create a supportive and accepting atmosphere at home. Praise for any, even the most minor, achievement, do not scold for mistakes. Say you’re happy with your son/daughter even if he’s not doing well. Hug your child more often!

# Talk! Ask your child about his experiences of the day. Listen to his story carefully, even if you are very busy. For him it is very important!

* Respect the balance between study and rest. Avoid overloading – pupils need to have free time where they can switch to doing what they want.

* Don’t forget to have a positive attitude. Talk about the exciting new phase of his life and how learning is exciting. Throw a party after the school assembly. It’s important for your first-grader to choose with whom and where he wants to spend it, and to be directly involved in the preparations.

Lifehack: train assiduity. It is difficult for a child of this age to focus on one thing for long and sit still for 45 minutes. For practice before school starts, give him assignments that can keep him at the desk for at least half an hour. For example, assign them to draw or make something, assemble a construction set, make an applique, etc. d. After school, take a 20-minute break and do something your child enjoys. This way he will get used to the new regime quicker.

Advice from a seasoned mother

Often parents are too focused on the child and forget that they need the same amount of preparation for school themselves. If you treat learning like a hard labor, he will instantly consider this information and will think just like you.

Lifehack from Olesya Sharkova, a mother of three, the creator of the portal Mnogomamok: “First, relax, school is not the end of the world. Try to catch zen and in difficult situations repeat to yourself: “And this will pass. Second, unconditional love for your child will help you survive any stressful situation. Never compare him to your friend’s son daughter – all children are different, and your baby is without a doubt the best! Third, many of the chores associated with school can be effectively delegated to other family members. Believe me, the world won’t end without your participation. Of course, it will help you personally feel indispensable, but the child needs a healthy, happy and calm mother, not fussy. Take Care!”.

And in conclusion..

If you don’t want to wake up your child in the morning until his gray hair, collect his briefcase and do his homework together, start developing personal responsibility for the result in your first grader from the first day of school. Of course, not right away, at first you’ll have to direct your efforts – write reminders or have a speedy briefcase-collecting contest, for example. But then the only thing left is to monitor from time to time, but do it discreetly so as not to discourage you from trying. And also remember that school is just a small part of your life, don’t limit your family time to school worries!

Author Sasha Koellner