Rospotrebnadzor: Successful adaptation to school - advice for parents and teachers

      Adaptation to school is a period of adjustment for a child to the conditions of the educational process. It is a time when the child gets used to a new routine: regular lessons, rules, and new people (teachers and classmates). More than a third of younger schoolchildren face problems in adapting to school. Issues may arise in the first grade or when transitioning from class to class.

      The duration of adaptation will depend on the atmosphere in the family, the psychological characteristics and personality of the child, their level of knowledge, as well as the type of school and the complexity of the educational programs. The adaptation period usually lasts from 5 weeks to 7 months.

      September is a challenging month for first-graders and schoolchildren in general. To ensure that the adaptation period goes smoothly for the child, we recommend following these guidelines.

      Recommendations for parents:

      Establish contact with the teacher. Tell them about your child's personality traits. This will help ease the adaptation process.

      Teach your child important self-organization skills for school in advance: packing their backpack, organizing items according to a list, and keeping track of the schedule.

      Maintain a daily routine. About 2–2.5 weeks before the school year begins, try to adjust your child to the school schedule. Aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Avoid watching television late into the evening. Take a walk with your child in the evening. This promotes good and sound sleep.

      Talk to your child about what happens at school, or play a role-playing game. Emphasize the rules of communication with classmates and teachers.

      It is very important during the initial period of school attendance to be interested not only in your child's academic process but also in how their relationships with others are developing. Is the child physically comfortable at school? Are there any problems with eating or going to the bathroom? What is their relationship with their desk neighbor? Who have they befriended or quarreled with?

      All these seemingly minor details can cause additional discomfort for the child, and they may not always be able to express this themselves. Do not scold your child if they forget something, mix things up, or do something wrong. Never compare your child to other children.

      Create a "situation of success." Tell your child that the most important thing in the learning process is not the grade, but the knowledge they gain.

      Try to refrain from extracurricular activities for your child in the first month of school, such as clubs and sections. This is a significant additional burden for them during this period. Surround them with care and attention.

      Remember that a child surrounded by care, love, and family support copes more easily with any tasks and difficulties.

      Do not forget about your child's proper and balanced nutrition. Include grains, meat and dairy products, fruits, and vegetables in their daily diet.

      Recommendations for teachers:

      It is important to gradually immerse students in the educational process.

      Review previously studied material — this will help to activate existing knowledge, which will gradually and easily lead the child to active learning activities.

      Using games in teaching is another approach to adapting children.

      The project method helps to activate and realize the child's creative potential.

      "Free communication minutes" and physical activity breaks provide an opportunity to change the activity of first-graders, which further contributes to better material retention and activates the student's attention during lessons.

      Adapting children to school is a complex process. But with the help of loving parents and wise teachers, the child will overcome it more easily and integrate into the working rhythm.

      We wish you a successful adaptation to school!

      Based on materials from the website of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Center for Hygienic Education of the Population" of Rospotrebnadzor (http://cgon.rospotrebnadzor.ru/)