HOW TO ENRICH MY CHILD’S LIFE FOR TRANSITION TO PRIMARY SCHOOL

SWATI POPAT VATS

If I had my child, to raise all over again, I’d finger If I had my child, to raise all over again, I’d finger paint more and point the finger less.paint more and point the finger less.

I’d do less correcting and more connecting.I’d do less correcting and more connecting.

I’d take my eyes off the watch and watch with my I’d take my eyes off the watch and watch with my eyes.eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more.I would care to know less and know to care more.

I would be firm less often and affirm much more.I would be firm less often and affirm much more.

I would build self-esteem first and the house I would build self-esteem first and the house later…. later….

A Thought that inspires the Journey of Parenting:A Thought that inspires the Journey of Parenting:

AS YOUR CHILD TRANSITS TO HIGH AS YOUR CHILD TRANSITS TO HIGH SCHOOL HE WILL NEED AND DEPEND SCHOOL HE WILL NEED AND DEPEND ON THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS OF ON THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS OF

THE PREFRONTOL LOBE IN THE THE PREFRONTOL LOBE IN THE BRAINBRAIN

What are you doing to help it What are you doing to help it develop?develop?

Enrich your child’s life by ensuring that the child can use the executive functions of the brain……which are these functions?

The executive functions of the brain

Focus And Self ControlPerspective TakingCommunicationCognitive flexibilityInhibitionAbility to defer gratificationEstimating timeWorking memory

Promote communicationPromote communication

Learn to identify ways to Learn to identify ways to communicate with your kidscommunicate with your kids

Don’t droneDon’t drone Have eye contactHave eye contact Understand ‘hovering’Understand ‘hovering’ Understand ‘pull for attention’Understand ‘pull for attention’ Pay attention Pay attention Ask specific queriesAsk specific queries

Promote Focus-Promote Focus-

Play Games That Require Children To Pay Play Games That Require Children To Pay Attention.Attention.

I spyI spy PuzzlesPuzzles Red light – green lightRed light – green light Musical chairsMusical chairs Bell gameBell game

Promote Cognitive FlexibilityPromote Cognitive Flexibility

Have Children Play Sorting Games With Have Children Play Sorting Games With Changing Rules.Changing Rules.

Encourage Children To Pretend And To Encourage Children To Pretend And To Make Up Pretend Stories.Make Up Pretend Stories.

Give Children Puzzles.Give Children Puzzles.

Promote Working Memory-Promote Working Memory-

Play Games That Have Rules.Play Games That Have Rules. Have Children Make Plans, Have Children Make Plans,

Follow The Plans, And Then Follow The Plans, And Then Discuss What They Discuss What They Accomplished.Accomplished.

Promote Inhibitory Control-Promote Inhibitory Control-

Play Games Where Children Can’t Go On Play Games Where Children Can’t Go On Automatic Pilot.Automatic Pilot.

Peg-Tapping Game. In the Peg-tapping game, Peg-Tapping Game. In the Peg-tapping game, children are supposed to do the opposite of children are supposed to do the opposite of what you do. what you do.

Day-Night Task. When shown a picture of a Day-Night Task. When shown a picture of a black background with a yellow moon and black background with a yellow moon and stars, children are supposed to say ‘day’ etc.stars, children are supposed to say ‘day’ etc.

““Simon Says, Do the Opposite.”Simon Says, Do the Opposite.”

Promote Inhibitory Control-Promote Inhibitory Control-

Select Computer Games CarefullySelect Computer Games Carefully.. Hearts and flowersHearts and flowers Flanker tasks, such as Feed the FishFlanker tasks, such as Feed the Fish. .

incorporates a technique called the incorporates a technique called the Eriksen flanker taskEriksen flanker task. There’s a big fish in . There’s a big fish in the middle of the computer screen. The the middle of the computer screen. The task is to feed this fish. If the fish is task is to feed this fish. If the fish is pointing right, children need to press the pointing right, children need to press the right-hand button to feed the fish etc. right-hand button to feed the fish etc.

Promote Perspective takingPromote Perspective taking

Why is it important in children?Why is it important in children? Helps make sense of own and others Helps make sense of own and others

experiencesexperiences Better adjustment to schoolBetter adjustment to school Helps them understand what teachers Helps them understand what teachers

want and expect.want and expect. Helps in learning to readHelps in learning to read

Games for perspective takingGames for perspective taking

Role play gamesRole play games

DramaDrama

Play games of changing rolesPlay games of changing roles

Attention Deficit Disorders And Executive Functions Of The Brain

There are three kinds of ADHD—attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

1. There’s ADHD of the hyperactive type;

2. There’s ADHD of the inattentive type;

3. And there’s a combined type of ADHD.

The above points are from the book- ‘Mind in the Making’ For more details -

Ellen Galinsky - Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs. She groups this research into seven "essential life skills": Focus and self control Perspective taking Communicating Making connections Critical thinking Taking on challenges Self-directed, engaged learning

Attention Deficit Disorders And Executive Functions Of The Brain

Inhibition: is the ability to avoid distractions and stop themselves . This can be tested by a ‘stop task,’ Children with ADHD are most likely to need the stop signal to occur

earlier in the process for them to be able to stop themselves. Ability to defer gratification: Children with ADHD may be more likely to choose an immediate

reward over a reward that will happen later, even when the delayed reward is a bigger or better reward.

Estimating time: People of all ages with ADHD are likely to be less accurate in

estimating how long things will take. Working memory: Children who have the inattentive form of ADHD have a harder time

holding different things in their memory at the same time.

What makes children misbehave?

• Embarrassment.• Overbearing and insensitive adult • Unrealistic deadlines.• Family argument prior to school. • Bully in school/bus/play area.• Impatient adult• Inability to complete a task that is too

difficult.

The transition to primary schoolThe transition to primary school

Transitions tend to be some of the most Transitions tend to be some of the most difficult and stressful moments in the life of difficult and stressful moments in the life of a child. At these times teachers and a child. At these times teachers and parents often find themselves dealing with parents often find themselves dealing with more challenging behaviors and feeling more challenging behaviors and feeling more like police officers than nurturing more like police officers than nurturing caregivers. caregivers.

'six steps to conflict resolution' 'six steps to conflict resolution'

1. 1. Approach the situation calmlyApproach the situation calmly 2.2. Recognize the children’s feelingsRecognize the children’s feelings 3.3. Gather information and restate the problemGather information and restate the problem 4.4. Ask for ideas / solutionsAsk for ideas / solutions 5.5. Retell any suggested solutionRetell any suggested solution 6.6. Support children to act oh their decisionSupport children to act oh their decision

What is an effective transition?What is an effective transition?

Effective transition is when children…….Effective transition is when children……. Understand ‘what is coming’ ahead of time.Understand ‘what is coming’ ahead of time. Have some experience of the new environment and the Have some experience of the new environment and the

people in it.people in it. Feel safe, secure and valued in their new school.Feel safe, secure and valued in their new school. Know that staff at school will listen to them and respect Know that staff at school will listen to them and respect

what they saywhat they say Understand what is expected of them (learning behavior) Understand what is expected of them (learning behavior)

in schoolin school Know what they should/shouldn’t bring into school.Know what they should/shouldn’t bring into school. Enjoy the experience of moving to the ‘big school’.Enjoy the experience of moving to the ‘big school’. Feel that they have a measure of control over the Feel that they have a measure of control over the

processprocess

Why do problems arise Why do problems arise with transition?with transition?

Problems can occur during Problems can occur during transition for a variety of reasons : transition for a variety of reasons :

For instance:For instance:

The children might be unsettled or upset about the move The children might be unsettled or upset about the move from one setting to another.from one setting to another.

The children may have developed very close The children may have developed very close relationships with both staff and children in Jumbo Kids. relationships with both staff and children in Jumbo Kids. They will miss them!They will miss them!

There’s a very different ratio of adults to children in a There’s a very different ratio of adults to children in a primary class than there is in an Early years setting, primary class than there is in an Early years setting, meaning it is almost impossible for the children to get as meaning it is almost impossible for the children to get as much individual adult attention.much individual adult attention.

Behaviour issues may surface, particularly in those Behaviour issues may surface, particularly in those children who are confused by the change.children who are confused by the change.

Progress in learning and development can slow down Progress in learning and development can slow down while the child adapts to the school setting.while the child adapts to the school setting.

children will have to depend on their independent skills children will have to depend on their independent skills for accessing toilet, looking after their bags and for accessing toilet, looking after their bags and themselves. themselves.

There will be a jump in the learning content in the There will be a jump in the learning content in the primary years primary years

How will we help your child?How will we help your child? Your child will visit a primary classroom in the Your child will visit a primary classroom in the

next monthnext month Teachers will talk to them and help them Teachers will talk to them and help them

become independentbecome independent Children will continue with three line format in Children will continue with three line format in

standard one and twostandard one and two Primary teachers will come to observe Sr.kg Primary teachers will come to observe Sr.kg

class class More emphasis on Copying from the blackboard More emphasis on Copying from the blackboard

and reading in sr.kgand reading in sr.kg More worksheets in the first few months in More worksheets in the first few months in

primaryprimary

In everything you do as a In everything you do as a parent, remember that parent, remember that

……..……..

Only you can enrich your child’s Only you can enrich your child’s journey to primary school. All the best. journey to primary school. All the best.

swatipopat@podar.netswatipopat@podar.net