Starting school is one of the biggest changes in a young child’s life, and whānau are being encouraged to start preparing tamariki well before their first day in the classroom.
The transition from early childhood education to primary school brings major changes in routines, relationships, expectations and surroundings.
For tamariki, starting school means learning to navigate a new environment, developing relationships with teachers and classmates and becoming increasingly independent.
Research into the transition to school shows preparation is about much more than whether a child can read, write or count.
Social and emotional confidence, communication, independence and familiarity with the school environment can all play an important part in helping children adjust.
Research published this year found that activities such as visiting schools and talking, reading or singing about what school will be like can help children develop more realistic expectations and feel more secure about the change.
Strong communication between early childhood centres, schools and whānau can also help ensure teachers understand the child they are welcoming into their classroom.
For Māori whānau, a successful transition can also involve ensuring a child’s identity, culture and language continue to be recognised as they move from one learning environment into another.
That can be particularly important for tamariki moving from kaupapa Māori or te reo-rich early childhood environments into primary schools.
Parents and caregivers can help by talking positively but realistically about school, establishing routines, encouraging independence and giving tamariki opportunities to become familiar with their new kura, classroom and teachers.
Maintaining friendships and developing new relationships can also matter, with recent research showing children themselves can feel uncertainty about leaving established friendships behind as they prepare for school.
The transition is not only a milestone for tamariki.
It can be a significant adjustment for the entire whānau as parents and caregivers navigate a new education system, different routines and new relationships with teachers.
The message for whānau is that school readiness is not simply about getting tamariki academically prepared.
It is about giving them the confidence, connections and support they need to walk through the school gates ready for the next stage of their journey.
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