Fear of school: making it easier to start school

1. Arouse anticipation against the fear of starting school

To ensure that your child does not become afraid of school, you should try to convey a positive basic attitude towards school. Avoid sentences like “The serious part of life begins at school” or “How is it supposed to be with you at school?”. That’s what makes you afraid of going to school. Make it clear to your child that school enrollment is a happy event because it is finally one of the “big ones”, learns many exciting things and can make new friends.

2. Avoid pressure against the fear of starting school

Before starting school, you should avoid unnecessary pressure on your child so that your child does not become afraid of school. Pre-school notebooks, English courses or reading exercises in chords are absolutely unnecessary. Your child learns to read and write at school, where it is introduced to the knowledge in a playful way. It’s not your job to teach him such things in advance.

3. Talking about school against the fear of school

If you carefully introduce your child to the topic of school, you can avoid unnecessary fear of school. You can talk about your own school days, read books with school stories, or talk about other children you know who are already at school. In this way, your child can slowly develop an idea of ​​what to expect at school. It can understand that school enrollment is something completely normal and that it doesn’t have to be afraid of school.

4. Clarify questions before school starts

You should always be open to your child’s questions and concerns. Talk to them openly about school anxiety so you can answer any of your child’s questions and address any concerns. You should portray school as a nice, comfortable place. But always remain honest and give your child a little time to adjust to the new situation.

5. Have a say against the fear of school

It also helps against the fear of school if you involve your child in the decisions about school enrollment. Ask them which elementary school they would like to go to, who they would like to have in their class, what their school bag should look like or what they would like to wear when they start school. Take it with you when registering at school and shopping for school supplies. When your child starts to feel involved in the process, they don’t feel as insecure and anxious.

6. Buy school supplies before school starts

Getting new school supplies is exciting and fun. In order to reduce fear of school, you should take a few months before starting school and go shopping with your child for a satchel and other school supplies, such as a gym bag or pencil case. This gives your child enough time to familiarize themselves with the school supplies at home and they can look forward to proudly carrying the satchel to school on the first day.

7. Get to know the school before starting school

Before school starts, you can get your child used to the school premises. You can visit the new school on the open day, at registration or just like that. You can also play with your child in the schoolyard in the afternoon. If your child already knows the building and the schoolyard and can find their way around on their own, everything won’t be so strange on the first day and your child doesn’t need to be afraid of school. Sometimes the future pupils attend the new school together with the kindergarten.

8. Practice walking to school before school starts

You should also walk the way to school together several times before school starts, so that your child can get to know the way. This reduces the fear of school because the way there is more familiar. But that’s not all: Your child can also practice finding their way around on the road independently. Later it should finally be able to walk the path alone.

9. Promote independence against the fear of school

If you give your child small tasks in everyday life, they learn to take responsibility. Encouraging his independence will also reduce his fear of school. Because you make the transition from kindergarten to primary school easier for your child, where independence is suddenly required. By the way: It is often the parents who have problems letting go of their child when they start school. This feeling should not be transferred to the children. Otherwise, problems will quickly arise if your child has to part with you for the fixed lesson time.

10. Socialize against the fear of school

Maybe there are older siblings, children from the neighborhood or friends who go to the same school as your child. They can talk to them about school or teachers to allay their worries before starting school. You can also consider together which children they already know who will be in a class with them. The feeling of not being completely alone significantly reduces the fear of school. That’s why many schools have introduced programs where older students sponsor first graders and show the “newbies” around.