eNEWSLETTER
January 2004
Our Mission Statement:
"Providing a range of innovative professional services, empowering our clients to positively address issues affecting their lives."
Welcome to Clayfield Counselling Services January eNewsletter!
Children Starting School
Hello, and welcome to another New Year. Here at Clayfield Counselling Service we hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that the New Year is starting off wonderfully for you.
As the new school year approaches, we thought this month we would look at the important issue of children starting school for the first time. It is probably an exciting and daunting time for children entering grade 1. Most parents of young children look forward to the day that their child sets off for their first day of school. Often parents' expectations reflect cautious optimism that the child's entry into formal education will go relatively smoothly. On the flip side, we may expect formal education to begin shaping our children into adults - are we expecting them to grow up too quickly?
Is my child ready for school?
Most parents will send their children to preschool prior to starting school. This is seen as necessary to prepare
children for the transition from home to school, allowing them to learn valuable skills and giving them a sense of independence. The criteria for determining your child's readiness for school should, according to some, be based upon the levels of individual development. Dr John Irvine in his article entitled "Family Affairs" states that if you're not sure whether your child is ready to start school, you consider some general rules taken from his book "Thriving at School."
Social development is also important with children being able to play cooperatively with others, sharing and taking turns and the ability to mix happily with friends and go to preschool or parties without tears.
Steven Bidulph - author of "Raising Boys" states that boys should enter school later because they mature at a slower rate and develop their fine motor skills later. Due to boys developing their fine motor skills later and maturing at a slower rate, this can impact on their learning, which in turn can lead to aggression and a negative effect on their social skills.
What are the expectations of parents on their children?
In these heady days of wanting and having everything, it's not surprising to learn that most parents want the best and everything for their children. We hope they will be happy, healthy individuals and all-rounders, not necessarily brilliant at everything, but to achieve well academically, in their sporting pursuits and moral people with good values, but when we consider these pressures, are we expecting too much of our children. It seems we are expecting our children to begin the transition from childhood to adulthood earlier and earlier.
Are we taking away our children's chance to be children?
In an article in the Sunday Mail (Sunday 11 January, 2004 ) entitled "Cramming so they're ready for Year One" it was stated that pre-school children are spending their summer holidays at private classes throughout Brisbane to prepare them for Year 1. Fruition director, Ms Sherrin Gugenberger said "there is an awareness of education being very important whereas before, parents allowed school to just happen." However, some educational commentators have slammed the courses saying there is no research to suggest they are worthwhile and Melbourne-based educational commentator and columnist, Mr Christopher Bantick said "that before Year 1, children should be spending as much time as possible with Mum and Dad, colouring, painting, and enjoying their world."
Some interesting websites
- http://www.tadikamalaysia.com
- http://www.aacap.org
- http://www.service.sa.gov.au
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/schoolgate
- http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/gotoschool
- http://www.parentlink.act.gov.au/parentguides
Need a qualified professional counsellor?
Office hours are from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. After hours and Saturday appointments are available on request.
Until next time then...
"You may give them your love, but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you ... you are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth..." - The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
The editorial team at Clayfield Counselling Services