Page 124 - April Issue
P. 124
in focus: infant | big world
Signs of Readiness Tips for expressing to the child that such
Parents an experience can be exciting
Children that are extremely and fun,” she says, “It is very
anxious, fearful, and dependent • Visit nursery schools important that parents prepare
may have more difficulty and shop around as and inform the child of the
adjusting to such a new each is different changes prior to the first day
environment, suggests AbuAli, of nursery school.” Parents can
however, many children may • Speak to teachers and also help by letting the child
experience initial anxiety and maintain contact visit the school and meet with
slowly begin to adjust to a new other children that may be in
environment. “Children that • Do not worry if your his/her class. By visiting the
complete healthy developmental child is scared or school with the child, AbuAli
milestones may be more ready anxious says that parents can help make
to enter nursery school,” she the situation less intimidating
says, “For example, at about • Even for a healthy and make the transition easier.
two years old children begin to child nursery school “During this process the child
communicate symbolically and can be a scary concept should also meet the teacher
begin the process of language and begin the process of
development.”Children in safe • Be positive and this adjusting to other adults being
and stable family environments will help your child part of his/her life,” she says,
also begin to gain a greater stay positive “The most important factor is
sense of trust and autonomy. On for parents to normalise the
the other hand, children that are • Your child entering concept of nursery school, and
extremely fearful of strangers and nursery school can be if parents are showing signs of
dislike playing with other children scary for parents too! anxiety, the child may begin to
of a similar age may have Don’t forget to process mimic their behaviour.”
difficulty adjusting. In addition, your feelings
children that are overly attached CREDITS:
to the primary caregiver will have • Remember that each Alaa AbuAli, Counselling Psychologist
a difficult time separating even child is different and Synergy Integrated Medical Centre
for a short period of time. “Even one size does not fit all 04-3485452
if a child shows signs that he/she in nursery schools www.synergyctrdubai.com
is not ready for nursery school,
parents can help the child to • When dropping/picking
adjust and take steps to reduce up child try to stick to
any anxiety it may cause,” she a specific schedule as
says, adding, “Children may time differences can
throw tantrums, express anger, confuse or create more
and be overly sensitive; however
with time such feelings can be anxiety for the child.
reduced if they are dealt with in a
healthy way.” CREDIT: ALAA ABUALI
mother, baby & child April 2011 Introducing the Concept
AbuAli advises that parents
can help introduce the nursery
concept to child by talking and
giving them time to prepare
emotionally. “Parents can help
children by focusing on the
positive aspects of nursery and
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