The first day of preschool is often a trepidatious kind of day for both parents and children. Children anticipate meeting new kids and adjusting to new habits while in school. Parents, on the other hand, likely worry if they’ve enrolled their child in the right preschool, or whether the coming days will be as good (or as bad) as the first. These first-day jitters are common to parents who are enrolling their kids in conventional preschools. What more if they’ve chosen an international school, where the environment, population, and educational pedagogy are so much more different than they’re likely used to?
If you’re a parent pursuing an international preschool Singapore education for your child, remember that these anxieties are normal. What’s important is that you prepare your child for the imminent changes so that their experience will be good not only on the first day, but the whole year round. To that end, here’s a list of four things you can expect when sending your preschooler to an international school, plus some specific tips for preparing. The readier you both are, the more enjoyable and fulfilling this time in your child’s life will be for the both of you!
A Flock of New People
One thing an international preschool will have that a conventional preschool doesn’t is a diverse student population. Here, your child will meet other children from different countries, cultures, and walks of life. The same goes for their preschool teachers, who might be of different nationalities as well. It may be a lot to take in, as the cultural differences will affect how your child initially interacts, communicates with, and gets along with others. Knowing this, prepare your child to meet new people. Before preschool begins, model the kind of behavior you’d like to see them demonstrate to their classmates and teachers.
A Change in Environment
Going to an international preschool also means encountering a brand-new environment. Your preschooler may be, at different times during their first day, excited or overwhelmed by the new space. They may be happy to be away from home for a short while, but also scared of being alone with unfamiliar people. As their parent, you will need to help them acclimatize to the space and make them feel safe and comfortable in their classroom while you’re away.
A Change in Routine
Yet another thing your preschooler will encounter is a new set of routines. They’ll have new rules to follow, like when they should go to the restroom, where they should play, and where they should write or draw. This is different from the routines you keep at home, so at first, these new rules may disorient them. It’s a good idea to review your international preschool’s curriculum and student life so that you and your child can practice some of these routines ahead at home.
New Things to Learn Every Day
Lastly, being in an international preschool means that your child will have a lot to learn. No day will be exactly the same. There will be new books to read, new toys to play with, and new activities for them to do with their teachers and fellow students. Hopefully, the prospect will excite them more than it will scare them.
Tips on Preparing Your Preschooler for Their First Day of International School
Given the things that you and your child are in for, here are some extra suggestions on how to ease them into their international preschool experience.
- Let them practice how to interact with the many different people they’ll meet on campus. Teach them to be polite and friendly, to mind others’ personal space, and to listen when it’s another person’s turn to talk.
- See if you can visit the campus together, or at least show them its exteriors before school season begins. If this isn’t possible, ask to join a virtual campus tour and show your child the classroom, playground, and other spaces in their preschool. Familiarizing them with the environment will help cushion the initial shock or disorientation they might feel on the first day.
- Ask the teachers about what lessons or routines your child will likely encounter during their first week in preschool. Once you have an idea, see which among these you can practice with your child. Rehearsing even the simple things, like cleaning up or turning the pages of a book, may bolster your child’s confidence when they’re doing this in their classroom.
- Encourage them to share about their experiences as the days go by. Make an effort to find out about what lessons they like best and what their teachers are like. It’s also good to ask about their new friends, where they hail from, and what new things they’ve discovered from interacting with other international school students.
You can also check out these additional tips for choosing the right preschool program for your child and settling into preschool life in Singapore. May the first days in international preschool—and the succeeding days after that—be happy ones for you and your child!
