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Pre-school is a key stage in your child's schooling and development. His or her pre-school years will be marked by several transitions, more or less important. These transitions can generate stress for the child, and very often for the parents! It is important to prepare for these transitions so that you can live through them by giving your child calm and confidence. He needs you!

TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR PRESCHOOL

• Talk about school with your family, read books about it, tell them your (good) memories of school.

• If your child has always been looked after by yourself, start separating from him or her for shorter or longer periods of time. Trust your child and his or her ability to learn how to cope with these separations, which will benefit both you and your child.

• Involve your child in preparing for the new school year (buying slippers, choosing his or her outfit).

At Ecole M, we organize an open house in June. Your child will be able to see his class and spend some time there, meet some of his classmates and teachers. On this day we will give your child a small booklet with pictures of the school and teachers. Take the time to look at it with him during the summer, to prepare with him for the first day of school.

THE TRANSITIONS BETWEEN EACH PRE-SCHOOL YEAR

At the end of June, we announce to both children and parents the composition of the classes for the following school year. So, no surprise, the child goes on holiday knowing who his classmates and teachers will be at the beginning of the new school year. Take the time to talk about it with him. Whether they stay in their class or change classes, there are advantages to both options, so talk about it with your child. Listen to his or her concerns, if any, and answer any questions he or she may have. We are also here to accompany this transition which, although more fluid and simple, remains a change that must be explained and prepared with the child.

PREPARING FOR HIS ENTRY INTO CP

Your child is growing up, and his next school year will be in elementary school. This is an important and exciting step, and one that needs to be well accompanied so that it doesn't become too stressful:

• Before thinking about integration into first grade, it is important to be well accompanied during the last weeks of pre-school. The school will organize meetings to celebrate the accomplishment of this first step in your child's schooling, try to be present at these moments.

• Valorize all that the child has done and learned during his years in pre-school. You can look at his binders or photos from those three years and talk about how far he's come. This will give them the confidence to take the next step.

• If possible, visit the elementary school your child will be attending.

• Find out if any of his classmates will be in his school or class. If not, reassure your child that he or she will still be able to keep in touch with friends (weekend visits, birthdays, etc.).

ARRIVING OR LEAVING DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR

It can happen that, due to a move or other imperatives, a child changes schools between two years of pre-school, or even during the year. With the right support, the child can cope well with these changes:

• Take the time to explain clearly and simply to the child that he or she is going to change schools a few weeks before leaving.

• Accept his sadness if he feels it, and reassure him that, just as he felt good in his current school, he will feel good in his new school.

• Arrange a visit to the new school before the first day of school if possible.

• Also take time to mark his departure from his current school by saying goodbye to his classmates and teachers.

At school and in life, your child will go through several transitions between the ages of 2 and 6. You will have noticed that the same advice comes up each time. Reassure your child. He may be sad to leave the situation and the people he knows and loves, and he may be afraid of the unknown, which is quite normal. Listen to him, let him express his feelings, without going looking for them if your child doesn't feel them. It's the adult's role to talk to him, to explain what's going on so that he approaches these changes with a little bit of stress perhaps, but with confidence and excitement above all!

Paula Buswell