While many children across Australia have been heading into primary school classrooms for the first time, some are making a transition of a different kind as they start preschool.
“The transition to preschool can evoke feelings of concern about how children will manage new expectations, daily routines and relationships with educators and other children,” says Dr Lysa Dealtry, a Lecturer with the School of Education at Charles Sturt University.
Her research has explored the perspectives of Australian children and families on their experiences of transition to school and her disciplinary knowledge in tertiary education spans early childhood education, First Nations education, intercultural education and curriculum and course development.
She says “parents/carers might also feel anxious about their own ability to manage their feelings of missing their child, or apprehension about the quality of education and care their child is receiving while at preschool”.
“A talk with your child’s educators about any concerns you may have can reassure you that your child’s strengths and needs will be understood and met.
“Talking with other parents/carers who have already navigated these changes can be a helpful way to know what changes to expect and to lessen and normalise any worrying feelings of uncertainty,” says Dealtry.
“Consider asking about the positives and opportunities that starting preschool generated for them and their child.”
When selecting a preschool setting for your child, Dealtry recommends looking for “multiple and flexible orientation and transition opportunities that are designed to build parents’ and carers’ and children’s familiarity with the educators, routines, and environment in that setting”.
“From this experience in the preschool setting, parents/carers can think about activities they can do at home with their child prior to a formal start to preschool such as eating from a lunchbox, taking off and putting on shoes, or hygiene or toileting routines different to those the child is accustomed to.”
Dealtry says “early childhood educators fully appreciate and expect the differing abilities and capacities that children bring with them to preschool”.
“A talk with your child’s educators about any concerns you may have can reassure you that your child’s strengths and needs will be understood and met,” she says.
“Educators also understand how precious your child is to you and that leaving your child in the care of someone outside of family can be distressing initially. Educators will want to work with you, and learn from you, to best support you and your child as you start preschool, so make use of, and initiate if needed, opportunities to communicate and collaborate with your child’s educators.”
