Fit for school - tips to make your child a happy new pupil

By Eva Neumann Aug 18, 2011, 4:06 GMT

Munich - Right now lots of young kids are preparing for their first year at school. Sending a child into the primary education system means change for the entire family. With a little preparation it's possible to avoid many of the stresses and strains that happen when your child begins school.

The ideal basis for a good start is to create a positive atmosphere for the prospective school pupil. 'Kids usually interpret going to school as a major change in their lives. They look forward to it with a mixture of tense joy, curiosity and high expectations. For them it's a moment that shows they have grown up,' says Joachim Kahlert, professor of primary school teacher training at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich.

Parents should support their child's sense of curiosity and desire for new experiences. Many schools offer information evenings and tours for parents and it's important to talk at home about what your child can expect. If your child quickly develops a picture of what school is like then its next step in life will be less unsure.

'If a child is worried about meeting new kids or their teacher, it can be positive to remind them about good experiences with strange children in the past,' says Kahlert.

One thing you should not do is make your child aware of any worries or concerns you may have yourself.

'Some parents don't have good memories from their own time at school,' says Albert Meindl from the Caritas education advice centre in Passau, Germany. The best thing is to keep those thoughts to yourself.

There are also a couple of practical things you can do to make the first day at school a pleasant one. 'Something you can start out with very early is to practice taking your child to school,' says Henricke Schneider-Petri from the GEW teachers' trade union.

'In the beginning you should choose the safest - and not necessarily the shortest - way to school and try it out on your own.' Then take your child along the same route on a few occasions, either at the beginning or end of the school day.

As soon as you get a list of the school books your child will need you should start putting covers on them. 'All of these preparations can help your child look forward to the big day,' says Kahlert. 'They also provide good opportunities to talk with your child or to leaf through a school book with them.'

The biggest problems most families have to face is the change in the daily routine.

'As soon as they start going to school they are committed to a specific daily structure,' says Kahlert. That can affect the parents' work routine. Some children are also used to staying up late at night.

'In order for your child to be well rested and able to concentrate at school it must go to bed early. The whole family can practice the new rhythm in the days leading up to school,' says Meindl.

A very important point is to make sure someone is there for your child when they return from school. 'A child in first class will come home with lots of new impressions. A parent needs to be there so they can speak about what they have experienced,' says Meindl.