Ten top tips for managing transition from nursery to school

The transition from nursery to school can be a stressful time for children in UAE and as well other parts of the world. However, it is not only the kids but also parents and practitioners too who face a hard time adjusting to the change. Early years experts and professionals have listed down their top ten tips were to ensure that children were ‘school ready’ They also advised on how to make this important transition a smooth, happy and effective one.

1. School visits: Visiting the school as often as possible this will increase the child’s confidence greatly for transition from nursery to school. The multiple short visits to the school could include attending their festivals annual days sports meet, graduation day etc. Taking the child around the park area surrounding the school or just allowing them to run around is a good idea.
2. Photo transition books: Many experts suggested that parents make books for their children after their school visits. The books could contain photos of the new school staff, favourite toys, activities or specific resources the kid enjoyed while he was there. These can then be taken home and shared and talk about with their parents and/or guardians. Familiar resources the school has which are similar to those within their own home helps a lot.
3. Good relationships with the school: Develop a good relationship with your local school (including the admin team). The returns on investment of the time this takes is invaluable. If you can then they will be much more likely to accommodate and welcome visits from you and your children. Other tips included personally delivering your Nursery Forms rather than posting them or sending it through courier. Sign up for e-newsletters or ‘like’ their social media pages and keep a real close relationship with the school throughout the year, not just at times of transition.
4. Role play ideas: This is so easy and effective. Just do role play with school bags, uniforms to dress up in, with  school logos on the walls and other items to make it “look” like school time. You could even play uniform dressing-up to build confidence and to reduce the risk of anxiety of when time actually arrives.
5. Read books: Reading stories about other children going to a new school is a great way to start talking about the transition. There will always be some children who require more support than others but story telling is a good way to talk around feelings as some children may have difficulty to express their thougths.
6. Focus on change: Imbibe in the child that change is good. look at seasonal changes and other positive examples of how changes can lead to better and/or different opportunities. Have older children already in school and talk about what school life has to offer and all the fun things that the children do at school
7. Independence is important: Encourage the child to  be independent by putting on their own shoes, geting dressed/undressed without help. Independently go to the toilet and wash their hand and most importantly having the confidence to ask an adult for help. Independence skills are vita and all children to ‘have a go’ and provide challenging activities.
8. Maintain attention and focus: Help children to use all the five senses and keep focused on the task at hard. Seeing, listening, touching, getting used to new school items smells and textures and speaking about them is a good way to stay focused on the changes to come.
9. Support parents: Some parents need a lot of support during the transitional time as some do not realise the many differences between a private nursery and a professional school setting. Educate them that allowing their kid to be independent is indeed an admirable skill and an essential part of growing up. Encourage them to discuss these with their children.
10. Be patient: Remember that children do not know what ‘big school’ is all about. They will hear everyone talking about it but, as they have no real experience of it yet, it may frighten them. Be patient and remember to explain things clearly keeping in mind that all children develop at different rates.

By following the above tips chances are that you won’t go wrong!