What changes when your child goes from preschool to elementary school

By Joyce – Soon your toddler will become a preschooler and go to elementary school. Quite a step. For your child, but also for you.

What changes for you?

From one morning to five whole days

Some kids go to preschool for a day. Other five mornings. No matter how many times your child goes, they are mornings. When your child turns four they will go to elementary school and then it will be five whole days.

A big jump. Luckily teachers take this into account. Before their fourth birthday, children are allowed to come for a few sessions of orientation. This is often a half day.

It varies per school how often this is. Many children have no problems with this transition, but there are also children who have to get used to it. Don’t worry if your child can’t make it through five days. He is not alone. Let him get used to it.

He will be fine.

Taking food and drink to school

At the playgroup the children always get fruit and drinks in between. At elementary school you have to take care of the 10-hour break yourself. And don’t forget lunch!

All children bring their own food and drink to school. Look carefully at the rules. Some schools do not want packaged drinks. Other schools only want fruit as 10 a.m. You are not the first parent to give your child something that is not allowed.

But the most important thing is that your child likes it. At least it will feel comfortable.

From a small group to a full class

If your child used to be in a small group with two teachers. At elementary school, your child will enter a full class of about 30 children. That’s also a transition.

The group is twice as big and you have one “teacher” less. That also takes some getting used to. A lot of kids really have to get used to that. Give your child that time.

He will be fine on his own.

From oldest to youngest in the building

Was your child the oldest in the building. Now it’s suddenly the youngest. And there are children walking around who are parents for 8 years. That takes some getting used to. First your child was the toughest and biggest, now there are much bigger children.

That also takes some getting used to. There are some children who do not mind this at all, but most children look a little “the cat out of the tree”. So don’t be surprised if the teacher says your child is still quiet in the circle.

From a small building to a big building

A preschool often has one or two groups. An elementary school has many more. If it was small and familiar before, that has changed now. More and more playgroups are located in the same building as the elementary school. Often the playgroup is part of the child center.

Very nice, because then the transition is not so big.

Whatever happens, give your child time

As you can read a lot changes for your child when it goes from playgroup to elementary school. It is important that you give your child time. If you want to make the transition smaller, you could drive past the elementary school once in a while.

So your child knows where he will be going. It is also nice if the preschool writes a transfer for the teacher. So the teacher can pick up where the leader left off. That makes the transition that much nicer. Whatever you do will be fine.

I wish you and your almost toddler good luck!

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