Tips / Ideas for First Time Schoolgoers

Arthi, I am a person who would like to keep a close watch with school things. These are the things that I did last year and intend to do in future too.

PTA meet: I would enquire in the school, if I can callup weekly once, to talk to the teacher directly, on how the kid does in the school. The call wont go beyond 5mins, and fix up a time well ahead. Say every Friday noon, evening, whichever the teacher is ok with. This way I can hear things from the teacher's point of view too. This helped a lot for me, coz after V, i wasnt going to her school regularly for pickup/drops, so calling up was the only way to get in touch with the teacher. PTA meets happen once in a term. Thrice in a yr. During those calls, I always Thank the teacher whole heartedly, and ask her what more I can do at home, that would help my child.

Spending time with the kid, 1-1 times, say 1hr everyday atleast, would automatically bring out things I talk about everything else under the sun, slowly get into school related talks, and get to know things from DD. Otherwise, if i ask her, what did do you today, how was your day, teach me, etc, my DD wont answer, she would say, am busy coloring/paintin/reading now, we will talk about this later, and that 'later' would never happen )

Other regular communication from school happens through their Messenger (diary), in which if I have any doubts, I call up school and ask - say XXX proj, am not clear on what has to be done exactly, etc.

Monthly twice/thrice atleast, visiting school is a good idea, my DD prefers that way, to get to know her friends. By the first month, I knew all her classmates That gives a nice feel, she narrates all her conversations,tiffs with her classmates Sometimes, if another KG kid happened to push her out of a slider, during free play, she wont tell me, later if i ask her pointing out the bruise, she would tell me, you dont know XXX amma, thats why i thought I need not tell you )

If she is not interested in talking about school, not interested in doing the activities, i dont force her too. But I used to tell her stories how her dad studied well, everybody admired his knowledge, he has a career on his own, etc etc, same way, DH would tell her about her mom (lol), how learning helps us know things around us better, how much her mom was good at school, etc )) We do this almost everyday )

I know I have typed too much, Thanks for reading Arthi )

 

AD, am sure you knew i would be here too. you have lot of questions, like me

yes lot of plans made on how i want things to be handled. but not sure if all ll go as planned. like zingy said, best method that works well with dd is roleplay. initially she never used to come out. these days she either narrates everything that happened in school herself fully or she talks to the doll/wall that gets me to understand what they are upto. her teachers are approachable too. going to a bigger school, not sure if this ll continue. but i am planning to talk to her teachers once in a month to get to know of her progress... not planned ones so that whatever is in the top of the teacher's mind just comes out.

dd needs lot of talking/preparation to get her adjusted to changes. these days during our play time, she always starts from brushing her teeth till going to sleep.. inbetween getting her books packed, lunch box, going to school, listening to teachers etc etc.. all of it she pretend plays.. (i play double triple multiple actions - as her teacher, watchman, van driver, classmate, & mommy too). i hope she wouldn't feel out of place there.

and yes, like you said, i have no big expectations; just that i want dd to enjoy her time in school always. as she moves to her higher education later, her school should leave wonderful memories with her, like what i feel about my school days. sure P will do well ! my wishes !

 

Arthi, where is the dumb head mommy? I cant find:rotfl Sure P is gonna love his mommy for all the efforts
Asha, your idea is great, including everything in the roleplay ) But DD all the time does the role of her mommy, nursing and babycare FULLTIME I am trying to do all funny games, to get her into school mood, but no, she wont! I am waiting for the school to re-open. This year, its the same school, but a new location, new teachers, new environment, but same classmates (big relief!). I still feel the butterflies.
Arthi, Sorry if am going out of topic

 

Hey girls, joining you here. As all of you know, DS did not do too well in school the first time. We are hoping to set it right now. DS is well prepared, in the scheduel he needs to be to go to school etc.
But off late I ahve noticed that his 20 minute breakfast session is getting to be longer and longer and today he finished his breakfast after much cajoling at 45 min. The school expects him to be well fed (for obvious reasons). How do you guys handle morning breakfast time.

 

K, breakfast is still a battle for us, thats when DD's dear daddy steps in to spoon feed her Adding to it, through out our vacation, she was spoon-fed on and off, by her GPs:bonk Now she takes 1hr or 45mins to finish any meal! Dono how she is going to manage bfast at home and lunch at school:spin
9.10am she has to leave home, I give her breakfast by 8am these days. Hope it works