Making the Transition from Preschool Easy
My friend lives in NYC. Her son has a learning disability and needs to be enrolled in a special needs school in NYC as his preschool days are almost over. Unlike my daughter who was really excited about her new school, this child was terrified. Seeing him fret and fume over this transition, I realized this change is challenging for children with special needs. Therefore, I decided to write about it and provide a few possible solutions for this situation.
Break the Ice as Early as Possible
It's important that parents to children with special needs inform their child of the upcoming change as early as possible. Let your child know at least a month in advance before the transition is supposed to take place. It will be easier for your child to accept the fact that he/she has to leave the preschool and head to a special needs school. They may get excited about it (which would be great), but if the child faces anxiety, sadness, or any kind of discomfort, you will have enough time to help him/her deal with the upcoming transition and paint the event in a positive light. You can make it more exciting for them by engaging them in special, related activities such as creating a photo book documenting their time at the preschool or putting together a list of all of the wonderful activities they will be able to take part in once they start attending their new school.
Visit to the New School
Although special needs schools in NYC are very friendly, it is important to tour the school personally at least once or twice with your kid in advance. Helping them gain an insight into the environment that he/she is going to spend the coming years in will help them get comfortable with the place on his/her first day at school. It will also help them deal with any ”first day jitters” and allow them to develop a positive outlook into their future in the new school.
Set Your Expectations
Having unrealistic expectations regarding your child's first few days at the new school is not beneficial for you or for your child. You know your child best and hence your expectations from his/her must be set while keeping in mind both their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Discuss these expectations with your child and engage them into sharing their own expectations from the upcoming transition with you.
Last but not the least, teach your child that transition is an indispensable part of their lives. Help them develop into becoming someone who welcomes any kind of change with an open heart and an open mind.
Break the Ice as Early as Possible
It's important that parents to children with special needs inform their child of the upcoming change as early as possible. Let your child know at least a month in advance before the transition is supposed to take place. It will be easier for your child to accept the fact that he/she has to leave the preschool and head to a special needs school. They may get excited about it (which would be great), but if the child faces anxiety, sadness, or any kind of discomfort, you will have enough time to help him/her deal with the upcoming transition and paint the event in a positive light. You can make it more exciting for them by engaging them in special, related activities such as creating a photo book documenting their time at the preschool or putting together a list of all of the wonderful activities they will be able to take part in once they start attending their new school.
Visit to the New School
Although special needs schools in NYC are very friendly, it is important to tour the school personally at least once or twice with your kid in advance. Helping them gain an insight into the environment that he/she is going to spend the coming years in will help them get comfortable with the place on his/her first day at school. It will also help them deal with any ”first day jitters” and allow them to develop a positive outlook into their future in the new school.
Set Your Expectations
Having unrealistic expectations regarding your child's first few days at the new school is not beneficial for you or for your child. You know your child best and hence your expectations from his/her must be set while keeping in mind both their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Discuss these expectations with your child and engage them into sharing their own expectations from the upcoming transition with you.
Last but not the least, teach your child that transition is an indispensable part of their lives. Help them develop into becoming someone who welcomes any kind of change with an open heart and an open mind.
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