Preparing your child for Primary School
Preparing your child for Primary School can be a stressful time for our young Pacific Learners and their families. It is important that we start the transition process early, and that our children can start to think and prepare for the journey ahead.
In this video, the pre-school teacher has 2 children that will be turning 5 soon, so she makes an appointment with the local Primary school so the children can meet the teacher, some of the children and become familiar with the school environment.
At Pacific Learners, we have a passion to see our young Pacific children get a great start to their schooling.
Below, we have listed 5 things a parent can do to prepare their child for Primary School, as a Pacific parent, it is important that you allow your child to continue to express themselves in their Pacific culture. They will make friends from all cultures, so encourage them to continue speaking their Pacific Langauge.
5 things parents can do to prepare your Preschool children for Primary SchoolÂ
- Identify the Primary School your child will be going to, then start to talk to your child about the school and the fun things they will be doing there.
- Talk to the preschool and ask to see the transition plan, the preschool will have a plan that will enable a smooth transition.
- In the weekend, or after preschool, take your child to the school, let them look around and play on the equipment. The child will become familiar with the environment and be more comfortable when they start.
- Don’t be too caught up in the child’s literacy and numeracy levels, for now it is about getting them settled into the new environment and exploring and making new friends.
- If English is a second language, don’t be worried. Let your child speak their Pacific language at home, this is important for their sense of belonging and cultural identity