Top 5 Tips to Help Young Children Settle into Kindergarten - Mytour.vn

As this is often their first time in school, children may feel uneasy and unfamiliar with the environment. Teachers should be patient with children's initial habits, like carrying their backpack, eating less, or avoiding vegetables. If you try to force them to change these behaviors immediately, all the effort to accommodate them will be in vain. Instead, guide children gradually, allowing them to adjust to the school's routine at their own pace. Over time, they will become familiar with the class rules, meal times, and hygiene routines. During meal time, encourage children to finish their meal by letting them eat with peers, creating a relaxed atmosphere without pressure. Compliment them when they eat well to make mealtime enjoyable. However, if a child refuses to eat, don't force them—offer snacks or milk, and remind parents to encourage them to eat more at home. If a child feels unwell or might vomit, stop feeding them. This helps prevent a negative association with food and encourages smoother mealtime adaptation in the future. Avoid giving children snacks before meals to stimulate their appetite.

For children who are new to school, if they refuse to nap, don't force them to lie down with the other children. Allow them to sit in a spot where they feel comfortable. You can gently encourage them by telling them that when they feel sleepy, they can have a pillow or suggesting they lie down next to you for a little while, and then return to their seat once others wake up.

Alternatively, you could tell children a soft, quiet bedtime story to help them relax. Speak in a calm, soothing tone to encourage silence and order, making it easier for the child to drift off to sleep. If a child is still determined not to nap, discuss it with the parents at the end of the day to ensure the child is getting enough sleep at home as well.

In the early days of school, children often cling to their parents, reluctant to let go, and constantly look around, trying to figure out where they are, who the strangers are, and who they can trust. If a teacher rushes in to scoop them up or takes them away from their parents immediately, it may result in the child developing an immediate fear or dislike of the teacher.

In such cases, teachers should calmly greet the parents and smile at the child, engaging them in conversation without rushing to pick them up. Most children at this stage will simply sit in their parents' laps, observing quietly and not wanting to talk. For children who are hesitant to interact, teachers should take the time to converse with the parents and approach the child gently, perhaps bringing toys to the child’s seat and playing together. Once the child feels the teacher's warmth and friendliness, they will gradually become comfortable, eventually playing and following the teacher. It’s also essential to advise parents to drop off their child early during the first days to avoid any feelings of abandonment, which could cause anxiety or fear in the child.

Once the child has begun to accept the teacher, it’s time to organize a fun group activity, such as a simple game, to spark the child's interest and observe how new children react to the class environment. If the child joins in quickly, it indicates they are starting to adjust to the kindergarten and make friends.

If the child remains seated and watches, the teacher should join in the activity to build rapport, show friendliness, and reassure the child that kindergarten is a fun and exciting place. This helps the child feel more comfortable and reduces any fear or discomfort from being away from their parents.

This is also an essential factor in stimulating children's interest in going to school. In addition to a spacious, airy environment with greenery, like in many current preschool settings, teachers can create a truly 'beautiful' and welcoming educational space. This can be done by organizing fun physical games for the children, such as hopscotch, or simply sitting with them to enjoy the surrounding scenery while occasionally telling them stories. This will undoubtedly spark excitement and win the children's affection.

In the classroom, teachers can also start conversations with the children, asking them about objects or toys in the room, like: 'What is this?' or 'What’s the name of this object?' If the child answers correctly, praise them; if they don't, gently offer hints to guide their response. Typically, preschools have various play corners for the children, like nature corners, music corners, and arts corners, where the children can be drawn in by numerous colorful and attractive objects.