ELC News

Lyn Pewtress, ELC Coordinator 

Preparing for a start in the ELC 

In a couple of weeks, I will be presenting our annual ELC Parent Information Night online. The interests and questions from new parents continue and vary, as they do every year. 

However, the most common question I am asked is, 'How do I prepare my child for kindergarten next year?' Here are some tips to help your child get ready before their first day.

Read books 

Here are some good books for children in preparation: 

• Tom Goes to Kindergarten by Margaret Wild
• When I Grow Up by Andrew Daddo and Jonathan Bentley
• What to Expect at Preschool by Heidi Murkoff

Visit the local library

When your local library reopens, borrowing books and visiting during story times can help your child become used to listening to books as part of a group.

Your feelings about your child starting 

When a child starts a new year at the Centre, it’s normal for parents and their child to have mixed feelings. It is important for children to see your confidence in their ability to move ahead. 

Try not to let your child know about any worries you might have – will they find friends, feel comfortable, feel like they belong and be able to do what’s asked of them? 

Sometimes it’s helpful to talk to other parents about how they’re doing this. Developing good communication with your teacher can also help you overcome these concerns. 

Meet the team

In the coming weeks, we are awaiting direction from the Government for when educators can meet with you and your child. This will be dependent on current restrictions, so further information will be available shortly. 

At the end of this year, each child will also receive a ‘letter’ from their educators before they commence School. There are also those siblings who are fortunate enough to have spent some time in the ELC with their older brother or sister. 

Talk about the ELC

Discussions with your child about the activities they may participate in the group are always helpful, eg. ‘Harry, you might see blocks in your new classroom. You’ll be able to build with them like you do here’. You could also talk about some of the things that are different from their home like the toilets and playground, or different  from their previous classroom. 

Follow your child’s lead with conversation, so that they feel comfortable talking about their time ahead. Keeping things low-key can also be beneficial as your child might start to feel anxious if they sense it as a possible big occasion.

Your time at the ELC is a precious one, and preparation for your child’s commencement can go a long way to a successful transition.