And so Christmas has come and gone!
The tree has been taken down and boxed up!
The lights and decorations are in a tangled mess waiting to be unravelled again, and the midnight fireworks that brought in the new year – a distant memory.
Where does the time go?
It’s a worry! And so, as the month of January comes to a close, it’s time to iron those uniforms and pack those lunchboxes again. It’s time to go back to school!
For most of the readership, that’s good news but for some it can be a time of anxiety and nervousness.
For parents who are sending their children to school for the first time, it can be a very worrying and emotionally taxing experience.
While it is natural for parents to feel this way – and important for them to show their children that they care for them and their wellbeing – they must remember to demonstrate confidence in their child’s ability to succeed at school.
The early years of school are designed to establish the fundamentals of learning, therefore encouraging children to try new things, to ask lots of questions and to make new friends at school are vital ingredients to long-term educational success.
Apart from anxious parents who are sending their children to school for the first time, there are also nervous parents who are sending their children to a new school for the first time.
Whether they’re in primary school transitioning to secondary school or moving to a new school from a different region, state or even country, sending children to a new school – for whatever reason – can be a challenging emotional experience.
Understandably, it is a time of worry and apprehension for children and parents.
Questions about whether it was the ‘right’ decision to make or whether they’ll ‘fit’ in can plague waking thought.
But like starting a new job, it takes time to settle-in and integrate into a new learning environment.
Parents who encourage their children to embrace change by promoting resilience, persistence and good organisational skills will help ease their child’s educational transition.
Constant positive reinforcement, though support and encouragement, will do wonders for a child’s self-esteem and self-assurance.
And then, before you know it, the Christmas tree is up again! The lights and decorations are being untangled and a new year looms on the horizon.
All the anxiety and worry of the past – gone!
But don’t worry, it’s nearly time to iron those uniforms and pack those lunchboxes again. Where does the time go?
That’s the real worry!
Rob Kelly is a teacher and multimedia co-ordinator at Berwick Lodge Primary School. He will write about education matters for Star News Group throughout 2017.
If you have any topics you would like Rob to address please email dailyeditor@starnewsgroup.com.au
