Schools re-open: No more first-day blues for toddlers

AHMEDABAD: It was a unique sight at a city school. Though it was the first day in school for toddlers, none of them was crying.
The sight of anxious parents waiting outside was also missing. Instead, the strange sight that greeted one was that of parents sitting next to the tiny benches in the classroom where their wards were sitting and playing with them.
The change is attributed to recommendation of experts in the field of research in early childhood development.
The problem of first day at school has always distressed not only toddlers, but also parents who suffer from anxiety and have sought expert advice from counsellors.
City-based psychiatrist Dr Vinod Goyal decided to implement ‘The first day in school without tears’ plan at the St Xavier’s H S School, Mirzapur.
He said that they followed the psychological principle of ‘gradual separation’ of the child to help in easy transition from home to school.
“It was the first day in school at the St. Xavier’s school on Thursday and with help from school authorities,we planned that all children can have their parents with them. This would continue for four days. We had parents sitting near their children, playing with them, singing and dancing.
This helped children to feel destressed and they were able to interact with other children also,� said Goyal.
Father Rocky, the school principal, said, “Earlier, we did not allow parents inside the classroom. But this plan is helping the teachers and parents are also happy.� he said.
Studies in early childhood development, conducted at the MSU department of human development and family studies, have also recommended gradual orientation of children to school. Dr. Hina Mankodi of Chetan Balwadi recommends that the ideal age for a child to enter school is three plus. To help parents, Dr Sucheta Jasrai has also developed a compact disk and a booklet to explain how parents can initiate their children to school.
In Ahmedabad, many parents have sought advice from counsellors as they were unable to deal with the problem. Dr. Pratima Bhattacharjee, a counsellor here, says, “I have, in the past, counselled parents who could not cope with this problem. In most cases, the child suffers from ‘separation anxiety’ and we generally ask parents to help the child overcome insecurity, which is the root of the problem.�
“The best way to deal with the problem is that schools should permit parents to sit with their child, and the separation should be gradual. This way the child is able to adjust to the new environment and during the adjusting phase, the child has his parents with him,� Bhattacharjee says.
Dr Goyal adds that they have prepared a pamphlet for reference for parents and teachers. It is a guide that will help them understand the child’s response to the first day at school,� he says.