How to help your child return to school?

How to help bilingual children return to school?
The start of the school year is just around the corner! I suspect school supplies have already been purchased, new crayons, bags, and uniforms are waiting! And with them, children – some are going to school for the first time, some after a long break – as if they were going for the first time. They may be equally apprehensive about school, reluctant to part with their parents or grandparents.

I'm often asked how to help a child adjust to school. How can I prepare them? Adjustment means building relationships with adults at school – with whom the child feels safe enough to stay under their care all day. Settings – preschools and schools – are responsible for this adjustment.

At home, we can prepare a child for this new stage of life by familiarizing them with the idea of ​​preschool or school – by telling stories and listening to the stories of siblings or older friends.

Let's remember one thing: school is a stage in life, and let's not let the start of a new school year distract us from paying attention to our child's needs – the ordinary, everyday ones. Let's not constantly talk about school – let's have fun, spend time with our children – show them our love – let them feel loved. Especially now, before entering the unknown, children need attention, hugs, kisses, and spending time together, for example, reading books. I always recommend reading books together – it's not only entertaining but also a learning experience about the child's interests, fears, and how they think about the world. Stories and illustrations are often great conversation starters.

Sometimes parents are so afraid of how their child will cope with the change – starting school – that they stop talking about it – and then tension builds – no one talks about their fear – parents worry about how the child will adapt to school, and the child worries about how it will be at school at all, because they've already heard so many stories about it.

Children's books written specifically to help us embrace the topic of school can help us with this.

Recommended books about school for children returning to school or beginning their school journey
I recommend the following books to all parents to help them embrace the topic of school or preschool:

"Franklin Goes to School" – a story for children beginning their school journey – shows the challenge of a new situation and the emotions it can bring. Franklin is very afraid, but step by step, he learns to believe in his abilities.

This book is a very good foundation for discussing fears and expectations, as well as what can be supportive for the child.

The second book is "I Am a Student. Stories about School" – this book, through the adventures of the lovable twin pair Zuzia and Staś, guides us through the school life of the characters and models skills for living within the school community. By reading this book, we will learn about the twins and their adventures, friendships, and what they are learning at school.

The third book that shows not only what school means to a child but also the vast range of emotions that accompany starting school is My Happy Life. For many children, like Dunya, the protagonist of this book, one of the greatest fears is that they won't make friends. The author beautifully describes Dunya's emotions and how each of them should have a place, that they are like waves on the shore, coming and going.

Another book I would recommend is What Happened to Albert. It safely presents the topic of going to school and the associated anxiety and how it can manifest. How can you support a child in experiencing these emotions? The adult perspective is also valuable in this story – that adults can also fear new things. I think this book will appeal not only to children but also to their parents.

Mattis and His Adventures is a story that will stay with your children not only before they start first grade but also in the years to come, as Mattis's adventures are presented in first, second, and third grade. In addition to adventures, we see the world through a child's eyes and all the emotions they experience – from joy to sadness, including anger and disappointment – ​​in other words, what children experience every day. This is a great read that helps not only name but also understand the emotions we experience.

Books about emotions and feelings will help in conversations about what we feel.

But how do we name and understand the emotions we experience every day? We seem to know them, but sometimes we lack the vocabulary, definitions, and ways to deal with them – yet they are a very natural part of our lives – like breathing!

For emotional education at school and at home, I would like to recommend The Great Book of Feelings – a collection of four previously published titles in which Ms. Milka, a preschool teacher, teaches children what emotions are, how we feel them, and how to deal with them.

1. "Only Without Kissing! or How to Deal with Some Emotions"

with emotions",

2. "Loves, likes, respects... or more about feelings",

3. "Horror! "Where Babies Come From,"

4. "Mrs. Miłka's Team, or Respect, Courage, and Other Values."

In addition to stories adapted for preschool and early school age, parents and teachers receive explanations of feelings and how to talk to their child to support them.

As a supplement, I recommend Self-Regulation. Stories about what to do when emotions take over – together with Kuba and Lenka, the book's protagonists, children and parents will learn how to deal with situations when emotions drive their reactions. This book teaches you not only how to name emotions but also how to cope with them when they take over. It is a book for both children and adults, as it contains articles that explain stress, emotions, and self-regulation in an accessible way for parents.

While the first five books focus primarily on school life, the remaining two are helpful both in the school setting and for use at home.

Enjoy reading!

About the author:

Anna Jurek - a child and adolescent therapist with many years of experience She works with children and young people from migrant families, both in primary and secondary schools. She also works with parents and teachers, helping them better understand their children's behavior and equipping them with skills to support them and their behavior.

Other recommended products:

We also invite you to visit the "Books About School" shelf, where you'll find other great books to read in Polish.

On the "Books About Feelings" shelf, you'll find suggestions useful for talking about emotions.

We also recommend our Parent Guides, which will help you better navigate this important role.