A new year means new experiences for your child. From a new school to afterschool activities with different faces, it can be both nerve-wracking and exciting. We have a variety of tips for parents and caregivers to help children find their feet so that they enjoy these new experiences throughout the year with ease.
Looking up for guidance
A new year means moving up a grade, a new class of students and a new teacher! It’s quite a lot of change to navigate in the first few weeks of school. It’s important to know that school anxiety is quite common. Looking up to teachers who can help relieve uncertainty about what will happen each day can help reduce anxiety and break the day into small bites that feel manageable.
If your child has an older sibling, they can be a wonderful guide on what to expect and what to look forward to throughout the year. Being on hand for some reassurance during the day can also be a great support for younger children to feel secure around school.
Buddying up in school
Does your child’s school have a Buddy Bench? A Buddy Bench is a seat placed in the school playground to help children make friends and promote inclusion. A child who feels lonely or left out can sit on the bench, signalling they are looking for someone to play with. Other children are encouraged to approach the child on the bench and invite them to join in their activities.
Whether it’s a buddy bench or the school buddy program, these are helpful ways to help your child find their feet and have confidence that there’s help at hand.
Beyond the first days of school
The first day of school is one where we eagerly await to hear all about it. As parents and caregivers, we want to feel happy that they’ve settled in and are happy at school. But it isn’t always smooth sailing. As the first days are now giving way to the everyday, being there to talk about any issues helps them process their emotions and find some guidance. Try asking questions beyond the ‘how was your day’ to find out more. These conversations can work really well in the car or before a nighttime story.
Friends and fun
Encouraging your child to make friends is important in helping them feel more comfortable in their new class or after-school activities. But they often wonder how to do this!
It’s helpful to give children tactical pointers on how they can start talking to someone they don’t know in class.
Some of our favourite tips for children include:
- Smile: This can go a long way in showing others you’re friendly.
- Introduce yourself: Saying “Hi, my name is ____” is a great way to start a conversation.
- Ask a question to find common interests: For example, you could ask them what their favourite subject is, food or sport.
- Listen: When someone is talking to you, it’s important to pay attention and show that you’re interested in what they have to say.
- Be yourself: The more ‘you’ you can be, the easier it is to find like-minded friends.
- Remember, everyone’s a little nervous when meeting new people: So don’t worry if it feels a bit awkward at first. Just keep practising.
Shared interests for kids
Children find their feet faster when they feel a sense of security and stability, often when they discover shared interests such as sports, dance, drama or art. Introducing your child to a group or classes with this interest means they are more likely to develop positive self-esteem and confidence to carry through to other new experiences in 2023.
Our Academe Time teachers always start classes with warm-up activities that create a welcoming and relaxed environment for students to connect with each other. They also nurture participation for students who need extra support and a little more time.
A new year is exciting and with the right support and encouragement, your child can find their feet to feel confident about the new opportunities that lie ahead.
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Here at Academe Time, we strive to help children develop a sense of belonging by helping them foster relationships with like-minded peers within our incursions, after-school and holiday programs. Our purpose is to help children grow to be strong, moral, fulfilled and holistic adults by exploring their creativity and interests, such as dance, drama, yoga and sport.
Find out more about our programs here: https://academetime.com/school-hub/
