Building a solid foundation for a smooth educational journey

Searching for a good school for a young child may be a stress on its own, but having a child begin school without good preparation may be an even worse experience.
It is just as important for parents, guardians and general caretakers to fully understand the need to prepare children for school and ensure they have all basic fundamentals. The skills, knowledge and attitude needed for a junior to begin lower primary education are not limited to, but include being able to hold a pencil for use; carefully page through books without tearing them; packing up stationery after use; tying shoe laces, closing a button of their uniform and an overall excitement to go to the ‘big school’.

Staying clean
According to a parent of a grade one learner Martha Simbili, it is generally important to cultivate good habits for your child before they are ready to start this chapter.
“A critical thing parents should know is that of self-hygiene. Young children interact with so many others on school grounds. It is therefore very ideal for them to know that washing their hands after using the toilet or whenever they are dirty is essential. They must know to wash their fruits, and not to touch dirty surfaces.

Bullies or friends?
Bullies are somewhat inevitable in schools. They tend to harm other learners either physically or emotionally or both. Small unkind acts such as taking food from others, using unkind words and physical harm such as pushing other learners are but a few common examples within schools and may negatively affect those at the receiving end.
Socialising is inevitable to all humans. Your little one will also meet many others to play and spend time with during school hours. Making sure they keep in mind who they allow around them is vital. It is not only for their safety, but also for better social skills in the long run.
Another parent of a grade two learner, Anna Amunyela shared that naturally, children love to socialise and spend time with others.
“Teach children to know the difference between a bully or a friend. They must know that a bully is to keep away and a friend who is kind is to be kept close,” she said.
Having prepared a child to attend school is not only a feeling that puts one at ease, it also helps parents comfortably send children to school and not hope for good grades which were not prepared for. When children are prepared for school, they are better able to want to learn and add onto the knowledge they already have. This is a smooth transition which eventually reaps good results once done right.