When our children start to grow up, we worry about taking the next step.
But before we take the next step, we have to think carefully about how we're going to do it, what the possible and different reactions and results will be and, depending on these factors, we'll realise whether we're making the best decision in the first place and whether we're taking the step in the best way. All this to say that it is indeed a process that we parents must do carefully, at our own pace and, essentially, always take into consideration the needs and what will be best for our son or daughter.
Normally, it's a process that requires some time, and that time should be considerably in advance, since nowadays waiting lists for children to register at a school are always a headache for parents. In addition, the process of making this choice has a lot to do with the conditions of the kindergarten, the environment and the people who will be responsible for our children. And we mustn't forget the certain details that make parents say yes or no and that make the place trustworthy.
All this research and visits to different places can generate anxiety, tiredness, fear and some insecurity for parents. After all, it's a big step - our baby will no longer be at home as usual, they'll have to adapt to a new environment with different routines and unfamiliar faces, and socialising will be a big part of their days; parents want them to adapt well and be happy, because that means they've made a good choice and the whole process is going as expected (at least).
This feeling that they have made a good choice, we think, will only be felt after some time of adaptation and various contacts and interactions that our babies will have. We can consider that, after the process of looking for the ideal place, there is the process of experimenting - the baby will have its first contact, its first interaction and its first discoveries in a place it has never been before.
With such aspects to consider, parents will always be concerned that the kindergarten where their baby will have their first socialisation context will be safe, will take into account certain aspects that will make the little one feel more at ease - such as bringing a toy, bringing food that they know he or she will like or telling them that their baby will be used to taking a certain number of naps. These, like so many others, are small details that will make all the difference to parents when they agree to send their child to school. Allowing our baby to explore the new environment but, at the same time, giving them familiar characteristics of that place, so that they can be more confident in moving forward and experiencing new sensations and contexts, in addition to those they already knew.
Well, once we've found the most suitable school (at least the one that the parents think meets all the criteria we've set), we have the real test - the first day of school.
This day is always a mixture of emotions. The children are excited, but at the same time a little unsure of what to expect. Parents feel anxious, nervous and a thousand and one questions start to arise - will it be a good day? How many hours will our little one be at school? Will they miss us too much?
In addition, the feeling of leaving our baby is something that parents deal with on the first day of school. Emotions are running high and we try not to let our children feel or transmit these feelings to them. We all know that these are emotions we can't control and we agree that leaving them somewhere else in the care of other people is difficult to deal with and we immediately have the confidence and security to let it happen.
Leaving our children with someone or in a place like a kindergarten has led to the appearance of various aspects that have been decisive in making this decision. One of them is the incorporation of women into the labour market. Nowadays, women have their period of maternity leave, but when this ends they will have to make certain decisions that are adjusted to their needs and the needs of the baby. That's why kindergartens are becoming a common option.
With such characteristics, we can consider that one of parents' greatest fears is having to leave their children at school for the first time. However, leaving babies at kindergarten is a good option, as it will contribute to their development and is where they will have their first contexts for socialising with other people, especially other children of the same age. They will use and create tools that allow them to interact and build relationships with the people they meet on a daily basis.
So we went looking for some benefits of our little ones going to school:
- It's a new opportunity to further develop their stimulation - it's a new environment, where there are new and different objects to see, smell, hear, touch and learn what they are and what they are called;
- They will learn to share - sharing toys is fundamental for babies to know how to do this for their development;
- A new "language" will emerge and the baby will learn to communicate with other babies through gestures and their own "language" that only they understand;
- The feeling of belonging to a group is created and felt - established schedules and regular routines are the perfect ingredients for creating our babies' first interpersonal relationships.
These are some of the countless advantages you can point to when you decide to put your little one in a kindergarten. In addition to these benefits, this place is well thought out and can provide comfort and safety, thanks to its constant supervision by professionals.
However, we know that this first day is not always easy, we will always be afraid of their arrival and the baby's reaction can vary. It's another phase that parents and baby will have to go through and we're sure they'll do everything they can to get through it in the best possible way. It will certainly be a good experience to remember later.
Today, we're talking about this first day of school for the little ones, which for everyone is a real rollercoaster of emotions and, for this very reason, we've brought you a few benefits so that you can always bear in mind the advantages of leaving your baby at kindergarten, both for you as parents and for your little ones. We're taking another step towards our children's growth and development, and the first phase of that step can be challenging, but he or she will eventually adapt and be happy with their new routines, people and environment.
How about you? How did your baby's first day at school go? Did he or she react well, were there any fears? How was the adaptation? Parents out there, how did you feel after dropping them off for their first day at kindergarten? We want to know about your experience. We want to know your opinion.
