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First grade in the shadow of Corona: This is how you will prepare your children for a different school year

The promotion to first grade is one of the significant transitions in childhood, but this year the children will have to make it without the preliminary sessions that help them get to know the new framework. This way you can help them prepare

• Corona
• first grade'

Dr. Yael Barak Levy, guest article

The promotion to first grade, like other significant transition moments, is a significant development point in our children's lives. The safe shell of the kindergarten is transformed into a large structure with many children, academic requirements and behavioral boundaries that have not been met before.

A positive and pleasant experience strengthens the chance for a quick and good integration in the classroom and at school, without feelings of anxiety and inability. For this purpose, a number of preparatory processes are planned in the education system, such as: a visit of compulsory kindergarten children to school during the last third of the school year, a meeting with first graders and their teachers, preparatory talks in kindergarten and more. This year, the Corona forced us to deviate from these programs and thus did not allow children to gradually become familiar with the new framework to which they would join. This fact reinforces the need to prepare the children for September 1st.

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So how do we best prepare our children for promotion to first grade? We will start and make it clear that the children's academic abilities are not the main thing. Children do not need to know reading, writing or arithmetic, at any level, to be "ready" for first grade. The really important skills are a sense of ability, organizational abilities and self-regulation.

Do I know how to take a booklet and pencil case out of my bag? I will not forget equipment on the table at the end of the lesson? Can I dress and manage in the bathroom on my own? Do I mention messages? How will I behave in extreme situations? What do I do when I am angry, sad or excited? Will I know how to regulate and control my feelings and my behavior toward teachers and classmates?

In all these areas we can help children and promote them at home as well, through small and daily activities:

-We will know the way to school, we will identify the gate, we will look over the fence on the school yard.

- We will tell stories about first grade - What was Dad's teacher called? How does the break ring sound?

-We will clarify what a system of hours looks like, who are the teachers who will teach me, who are the children I already know from those who will be with me in class, what does my class look like?

At the same time, we will examine how children can be helped to strengthen their organizational function and self-regulation. To do this, one must first believe in children and allow them, in every possible field, to take responsibility for themselves - for their belongings, their environment, their bodies and their friendships. how?

We will make things together - we will cook, take care of the garden or put together a table. It does not matter what you do as long as the children take an active part in the activity and feel that they have succeeded in it. Along the way we will talk about our thought and planning processes, emphasize how important it is to work in an orderly manner and not miss a single step and be proud of the children and ourselves of the way and the result - "Look what you are capable of doing!".

Children can perform a regular task at home independently - for example: arrange the room or the dining table before the meal. Something that should be responsible for, remember to do it every day and that has several steps to strengthen the ability to organize. Of course, the execution of the task does not have to be perfect and we will certainly have to mention and direct quite a bit at the beginning.

We will listen and talk about feelings and behaviors - when the children turn to us to tell about quarrels with siblings or friends we will be asked questions and interested, but we will trust the children to solve the difficulties themselves. We will support and mediate, but we will try to allow them to develop and refine the ability to regulate their reactions in different situations. What do I do when my boyfriend is mad at me? What do I do when my opinion is not listened to? What things do I dislike? We will consider when it is necessary to intervene and when not. Sometimes it is better to have a conversation with the children after the situation is over and think together what happened there and what I would have done differently if I could.

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It should be noted that there are a number of sites on the net (for example, "Thousands - ready for first grade"; "This - valuable enrichment for children") that can be used to naturally prepare the children at home for the thousandth grade. Sites that offer playful and daily activities that strengthen motor, communication and organizational skills as well as a variety of pleasant and entertaining games that help with social conduct, control and regulation.

Remember, going up to first grade is a positive experience, it is developing and promoting and it is especially fun, and this is the feeling we want to convey to our children as well. Therefore, it is important to give children the feeling that we believe they can cope, overcome difficulties and fears and enjoy a thousandth grade. Encourage and remind them that they are not alone - they have friends, they have a professional teacher and there is a broad support system aimed at young children in every school.

Dr. Yael Barak Levy is the head of the department and track for early childhood, Achva Academic College