By Kylee Harris
Most children in the world start school at the age of six, and while some children with older siblings may be waiting with bated breath for their chance to be grown-up, those who don’t have older siblings or those who are more introverted may worry about their first school day. School can be magical once children find their bearings. It offers them the chance to learn new things, gain crucial social skills, and feel more confident in themselves. Getting children to see this can sometimes take a little work, but with a little patience and plenty of commitment, you can ace your game and ensure they ace theirs.
Great Expectations
In the months leading up to school, children who are reticent about new situations can be appeased through books and role playing.
Start off by showing simple picture books featuring children at school learning subjects like mathematics, reading and science.
Once children get to love a specific book, take turns adopting different roles from the books. Ensure you have all the tools you need – a blackboard, chalk, paper and pencil, colouring pens, and the like. Take turns playing teacher and student, and ask your child’s siblings (if you have other children) to join in on the fun. Older kids can also make school more exciting by talking to their younger sibling about the best things school has to offer (including sport, games, classes they enjoy and snacks).
You can also bring your child to school when you pick up older siblings, so they become comfortable with (and even intrigued by) the surroundings.
Accepting Differences
The Myers-Briggs personality type assessment indicates that there are 16 different personality types. This assessment essentially identifies four aspects of personality that make each of us so different from each other.
