The expert gives advice to parents and guardians who have to decide when is the best time to start adapting their child to school
Anyone who has passed a kindergarten when the students arrive, especially in the first few days of lessons, has probably observed a common scene: a very young child who cries separated from his parents to find, inside the gates, teachers, classmates and a totally different world from what they knew up until then.
Getting started in the school environment isn’t always an easy experience, but the sooner this introduction is made, the better it is for the child’s development, experts guarantee.
Shaped by stimuli and affects, the child’s brain is often so accustomed to family life and coexistence as to make it difficult to face the new universe represented by school. These spaces, however, bring many benefits to the little ones.
For the educational psychologist and pedagogical consultant of Conquista Soluções Educacional, Alene Bastos, “it is these spaces that offer a direction to play and explore the world in general, with the mediation of highly trained professionals to introduce this world to children”.
Explain that, in general, children are always open to learning. “It is clear that there is a phase of adaptation to new spaces and new people, which works differently for each child. Therefore, it is necessary to be patient and attentive, as well as carefully monitor this period.“, guide.
When to take the child to school?
But, after all, what is the best age to start this process? Under Brazilian law, every parent or guardian is required to enroll their children in an educational institution when they turn four. It is important to remember that this is not the minimum age, but the maximum.
In Brazil, the reality of many families imposes the need for children to be in kindergartens or schools well before this age group. They are parents who need to go back to work and have no one to leave the little ones with. Alene points out that this is not a problem from a child’s development point of view.
“In my case, as soon as my son was able to walk, when he was just over a year old, we already started taking him to school”, relationships. For the specialist, on average, from the age of two, it is already advisable to make this introduction.
What are the benefits?
As soon as he is born and for a long time, the child knows very few environments well, such as his own home and that of relatives, such as uncles or grandparents. It is also common for her to live with only a limited number of people, which limits her social relationship building. In this sense, the school represents a leap in its development.
The team consisting of teachers, pedagogical staff and other employees is well trained to assist the interaction of the little ones with the world around them. This quality interaction allows them to begin to have more self-control and empathy, as well as regulate their emotions.
The crying when parting from the mother at the school door is also part of this process. Already within the school, coexistence with other children favors the building of a circle of friendships, which is important for life.
In addition, the routines established by the school are essential. “There the children have time and space properly organized to have new experiences, such as playing freely, getting to know each other, listening to stories, eating with quality and also time to rest or take a nap”says the educational psychologist.
Another advantage is the detachment from the exclusively familiar environment, which allows to improve factors such as self-esteem, autonomy and self-confidence.
Finally, it is not uncommon for managers to report positive changes in children’s nutrition as well after they start attending school. “As a group, mirroring allows them to try some fruits and vegetables that they wouldn’t accept on their own. Many parents bring this feedback to the teams”account.
Are there any disadvantages?
When deciding if it’s time to start going to school, it’s crucial to weigh all the factors. “One of the disadvantages is exposure to various contact diseases, as the children’s immune system is still forming. This should be a point of attention in the first few months and parents should give due importance to recurring conditions.”advises Alene.
This scenario can be minimized with follow-up from a pediatrician. Another point to observe is the behavior of the child. For many, living together with other individuals is an opportunity for building and socializing. For others, touching too soon can lead to problems like aggression.
If so, sudden changes in behavior are the primary ways to realize that something is not quite right. “Since these are very young children, most of the cues are non-verbal, so parents should be aware of nightmares or restless sleep, excessive crying, irritation and lack of appetite, for example,” stands out.
When that happens, it’s not the time to despair. Ideally, those in charge seek coordination from the school so that, together, they can find the best solutions.
Source: Terra
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