Adaptation training for students who will start pre-school education and primary school 1st grade will start on 05 September 2022. While the parents continue their school preparations, they are also worried about how to ensure the adaptation process of the students who will just start their education life. Prof. Dr. Canan Tanıdır from Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, made suggestions for anxious children and their families who are having trouble separating from their parents.
“INTRODUCE THE CHILD TO THE TEACHER BEFORE STARTING SCHOOL!”
Just days before thousands of children start to school, parents think, "What if my child does not want to go to school?" and look for a solution to this question. Starting kindergarten and primary school education, which is an education life that will continue for years, may not be as easy as it is considered for both families and children. Prof. Dr. Canan Tanıdır from the Psychology Department of Istanbul Gelisim University made the following statements about how to treat children who will start school for the first time;
“Any transitional period in their lives can create anxiety in children. Therefore, while preparing the child for school, they should be informed that they will learn new knowledge and skills at school, as well as play games with their friends and that their teachers will definitely help them when they have a problem. Schools should not be promoted as a mere place of academic achievement for children. One of the most significant features of the school is that it provides a social environment and relationships with teachers in the parent roles. Hence, if possible, introduce the child to the classroom teacher before school starts. It may help them get used to it more easily. Having a warm acquaintance between the child and the teacher will increase the child's confidence.”
Additionally, some children may have "Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder". These children may have difficulty sitting in their place, focusing on the lesson, and writing what is on the board into the notebook during the lesson. In such situations, it will be good for the child to adapt if the teachers play an active role, Prof. Dr. Canan Tanıdır said.
THIS SHOULD BE DONE FOR CHILDREN WITH ANXIETY AND DIFFICULTY SEPARATING FROM THEIR PARENTS!
Children who are anxious and have difficulty separating from their parents may not want to go to school in the first days and may refuse to communicate with their friends. It may be good for families who encounter such situations to stay at school for a while. At the same time, Prof. Dr. Tanıdır indicated that the adaptation process of the child can be facilitated by paying attention to some points. Here are the points to consider:
- For children who have separation anxiety from their parents, teachers, school administration and classmates should encourage the child to come to the classroom and participate in the games during break time.
- It is very crucial for children not to leave school at the last minute or just before the start of the lesson, not to be picked up late, to have a little chat with their friends before the lesson, to play games, to be ready for the lesson.
- A scarf, photograph or an item of the parent can be given to the child to make the child feel safer at school and to carry it with him/her at school.
-Actions such as forcibly taking the child to the classroom or expelling the parent from the schoolyard will further increase the child's anxiety and aggravate the problem. Families of children who cannot go to class after leaving their parents after a few days should seek support from a specialist without wasting time.
