Kids on the coast

The safe and secure world of Prep is gone, and he’s about to become a very small fish in the big pond of primary school. Transition to Year 1 is a big milestone, and it marks the beginning of a new phase of learning and development. As parents, we are committed to caring for our children through their school years, and we hover in the background, sometimes anxious and often proud, as our children change and grow, and learn to make their way in the world without us.
 
In the school holidays, parents can help their children prepare for the transition, so when the first day of the new term arrives, they are confident and ready for the change. Sunshine Coast psychologist Rena Toth advises parents to provide support in a positive and problem-solving way, focusing on the child’s strengths and skills and the outcomes the child wants to achieve.

All transitions require closure of the old and preparation for the new, Rena explains, and while change can be uncomfortable, it need not be stressful. “See it as two easy steps that require a balanced approach – neither over-emphasising nor under-playing the transition, but perceiving it as normal and enjoyable,” she says.

Some children adjust to change more easily than others, due to innate and learned differences in personality, temperament, motivation and resilience, Rena explains. “If a child is gregarious and confident socially, then the ‘big pond’ will be very attractive and indeed where she or he wants to be and do well in,” Rena says. “More private or introspective children avoid ‘big ponds’.”Timid, introverted children will have greater difficulty around major changes that involve social interaction, and Rena suggests that these children would benefit from building strong and nurturing relationships in smaller groups within the wider school community.

The big pond is new territory and it can seem dangerous and scary to our small fish. They may worry about the transition, as unfamiliar experiences bring up feelings of uncertainty and fear of the unknown. Rena says parents can dispel unfounded fears with their own examples, humour and lots of love. “For more realistic fears, problem-solve with your child and try to come up with better alternatives for a more comfortable transition for your child,” she says.

“All sorts of imaginings can come into play, especially if the child has negative input from a role model.

“Most fears in life are unfounded and never ever eventuate; the same holds for fear of school transition.”

Rena advises parents to put a positive spin on the situation, so children feel safe about being at school. “Most importantly you, the parent, should be truly confident and certain about where, when and how your child will be accessing their new school,”she says.

The introduction of Prep into Queensland schools in 2007 included a new curriculum, an increase in the minimum age and the beginning of a full five-day week. Education Queensland’s (EQ) Early Phase of Learning Action Plan acknowledges that “schools have grappled with discontinuity at the juncture between Preschool and Year 1” and the plan aims for a “seamless” transition that actively accommodates children’s “individual, social and cultural contexts”.

Prep teacher Michelle Scheu welcomed the change, as the improved curriculum and systems help children prepare for Year 1, but Michelle says the transition is still challenging for children and she believes parental support is vital for a smooth transition. She advises parents to get involved and stay involved, so it’s a partnership and a shared experience. She suggests volunteering at the school, attending the annual fete, and visiting the school with your child to meet the new teacher.

At Chevallum State School, where Michelle teaches Prep, there is a four-week transition period at the end of term four, where Prep children meet the teachers, spend time in the classrooms and play in the playground. Each Prep child is assigned an older buddy, so a support network is set up through the school.

Even when such school support is in place, parents shouldn’t underestimate their role in the transition. Like Rena, Michelle believes parents need to be positive about the change, and she says some parents find the transition difficult and emotional.“Don’t let them feel your nervous tension, because they can pick up on that and feed off that,”she says.

It’s important for parents to teach their children to be self-sufficient, as the ability to look after themselves boosts their confidence, explains Michelle. When children starting Year 1 can’t dress themselves properly and aren’t independently toileting, they are nervous and worried about coping alone when their parent drops them off at school in the mornings.

“Empowering a child to be independent is one of the biggest gifts you can give them,” Michelle says. “Get them to do things by themselves, so that they’re starting to put on their own shoes, starting to dress themselves, starting to get themselves organised for their day.”

Some children cope more easily with change than others, and Michelle believes that first-born children may find it harder to adjust, and there may be more parental anxiety. “There’s often a lot more stress around a first child starting something new, than maybe a second or a third,” she says. “The first-born goes in not quite knowing what to expect.”

When kids aren’t emotionally ready for Year 1, Michelle says they are in survival mode, so they’re not in a good position to listen and learn things. “Sometimes it takes up to six months…and they’ll come back after the mid-year holidays and all of a sudden, it’s like their eyes are open...and all of a sudden they get everything,”she says.

All too soon, the first day blues are forgotten and our children are flying through their upper primary years. They are now the big fish in what has become a very small pond. They’re confident and comfortable, but it’s all coming to an end, and it’s time for the next big transition – from primary school to the large, impersonal world of high school.

A new time of transition begins. Again it’s a time of adjustment and a time of being the smallest and youngest in a very big pond. Education Queensland recognises Most Queensland state schools follow a traditional model, with secondary school encompassing Years 8-12, and children making the transition at the end of Year 7. Immanuel Lutheran College, an independent school at Buderim, has responded to transition issues by setting up an entire transition year in a sheltered environment for its Year 7 students.

Immanuel’s Director of Curriculum and Learning Donna Evans says that while school supports and procedures are in place, parental involvement is also critical to the success of the kids’ transitioning. Donna believes that it’s “a three-way deal” that involves parents, the school and the student, and without that three-way partnership, the child suffers in the middle. “Parents are just as important to the student as the school is, and vice versa,” she says.

Adolescents go through a period of intense physical, intellectual and emotional change, and the added stress of the transition to high school can be overwhelming for some. Parents need to realise that the child’s fears are real and Donna urges parents to take on board the fact that the kids are feeling anxious and to acknowledge that these are real issues for them. She recommends that parents share their own experiences about entering a new environment as a way of validating the child’s feelings.

Donna has noticed that many parents get stressed and the transition can be an emotional time for them. “We have many Year 7 mums and dads shedding a tear when they bring their kids along, as well,”she laughs.“It’s a big time for everybody.”

One of the transitional problems, says Donna, is learning the culture and she says the unwritten rules are the most difficult to prepare for. Children starting high school don’t want to be embarrassed, they don’t want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and they just want to blend in. “They want to be the same as everybody else, and they’d like to be invisible if at all possible,” she says.

The Christmas school holidays are an ideal time for parents to prepare for the logistics and routines of the new environment, and to involve the child in shopping for uniforms and stationery. “Try and make sure all the bases are covered, so there’s nothing that’s going to appear at the last minute that’s suddenly going to unsettle them or put a spanner in the works,”Donna advises.“Having the physical things, like the uniform and the textbooks, and the bag and the shoes and the socks, and all that kind of thing – they’re things that you can control, and be well-prepared for.”
Change, while uncomfortable at times, is a big part of life and learning. Adapting to change gives our children essential life skills as they move along the journey to becoming resilient, self-confident adults.

Tips for transition

Provide encouragement Focus on your child’s strengths and skills. Be confident, positive and balanced about the change that lies ahead.
Visit the school Walk around the school with your child, and identify the relevant playground, classroom and other key areas. Attend scheduled family open days and orientation sessions.

Talk to older students Gather relevant information about the school’s culture, its unwritten rules and routines, and discuss with your child. Listen to your child Keep the communication channels open, listen to your child’s concerns and help problem-solve if you can. Shop for uniforms and equipment Take your child shopping for the school uniform, bag, shoes and stationery, and accept their input into purchasing decisions. Meet with other new students Help your child connect with other transitioning students, so there will be familiar faces on the first day.

Tell stories Share your personal experiences of starting something new, and explain how you dealt with your fears. Build a relationship with the school Join the parents and citizens association or volunteer in some other capacity, if time allows. Clarify new routines Check bus routes and times, school start and finish times, after-school care programs and student drop-off points for vehicles. Increase independence For young children, this includes self-sufficiency in dressing and toileting. Older children will feel empowered by increased responsibility and self-reliance.