It must feel like your child was just born yesterday, as though they were tiny little wonders wrapped in the comfort of your arms. And then time moved fast and suddenly now we are to face this big world, and the first step to that is attending school! As a parent, you are bound to have mixed feelings about this. While you’re proud that your baby is big enough to go to school, spending time away from your tiny bag of joy is never fun. As you hand over your little one to the teachers, it’s important that you trust them and let them do their job. However, it would be prudent on your part to have a good conversation with your child’s teacher. There are many things that are unique to your child, and knowing them would better prepare the teacher in taking care of your child. So let’s look at seven of the most important things about your child that you should convey to the teacher in advance:
1. Your Child’s Likes And Dislikes
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Your child, like any other human being, has his/her own unique personality and set of things they like or dislike. They could be fond of some particular food item, or cartoon character, or choice of clothes, and the list would go on. The same goes for their aversions and things they hate. Now, it’s of course not possible to tell the teacher about every little thing about your child. The teacher has many kids to handle and can’t just focus on one particular kid. However, what you can do is make a small list of the top three-four likes and dislikes of your child. This would come in handy for the teacher in managing and helping your child during school hours.
2. Notify Them Of Any Health Conditions
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Remember that your child will be spending a reasonable amount of time in school. It would be best if you let your child’s teacher know about any health conditions that they may have. Let’s say your child is allergic to peanuts. If the teacher is aware of this, he/she would be careful in not accidentally giving your child something to eat that might contain peanuts. It is of greater importance if your child has an asthmatic condition or is diabetic. Knowing this in advance would prepare the teacher for fast reaction in cases of medical emergencies. Even when the school authorities aren’t able to reach you over the phone, at least they will be able to make some decisions based on your kid’s stated medical history.
3. Your Child’s Preferred Style Of Learning
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Children learn in different ways. Some learn fast, while others may be slower. And some may need creative methods of learning, while others can settle for the traditional ones. As a parent, you would have noticed what works best for your child. On a daily basis, your child learns new things such as washing their hands, using the loo when need be, or greeting elders. When you taught your child all of this, you would have tried diverse methods that suit their requirements. You are also well aware of your child’s average attention span. Share these details with the teacher.
4. Let Them Know Your Child’s Strengths And Weaknesses
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Every child is different. There will be some things that your child will excel at while others where they are not so good at. Speak about your child’s strengths with their teacher because when they are aware of it, they can help your kid build on these strengths. Also, telling them about your child’s weaknesses is essential as that will help the teacher tend to their needs with more care. The teachers would be able to give you your little one’s progress in these areas from time to time.
5. Behavioral Problems Your Child May Have
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You may have noticed certain behaviors or personality traits that your child has, which could be possibly a cause for concern. It could be that your little one is too shy and afraid to make friends. Or maybe, your child can throw some serious temper tantrums when their demands are not met, or worse still, turn violent and aggressive in certain situations. Let the teacher know about this so that they can plan out in advance and manage your child better. By doing this, their teacher will be better prepared to handle them, just in case they display off-putting behavior.
6. A Past Or Ongoing Family Issue
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The kind of environment your child is in can have a significant impact on them. If there was or is a problem in the family, such as the death of a loved one, a financial crisis, or a divorce, the teacher needs to know about it. Sometimes, it may seem like your child is coping well at home, but you never know how well they’re doing once they are out of their comfort zone. The moment they are on their own, they might resort to certain behavioral patterns that could cause them problems. It might jeopardize their friendship with other kids or cause hurdles in their learning. The possibilities are endless. The teacher can keep an eye out for any behavioral changes or tendencies that could indicate a crisis.
7. Let Them Know Of Triggers, If Any
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If your child has been at the receiving end of some trauma, or if they tend to experience distress to certain triggers, then you should make it a point to inform their teacher about it. It may take time to figure out the kind of triggers that set your child off, but if you have noticed a pattern earlier, it becomes easier to connect the dots. Sometimes, even the teacher might be able to assist you in identifying these patterns. Teachers spend a considerable amount of time with your children and could really help in the wellbeing of your child.
Be polite and respectful when you make a request to your child’s teacher. If there’s one person who worries about children who aren’t even their own, it’s a teacher! When you share your concerns and needs with the teacher, they get a better understanding of how to manage your child and help them grow better. Do you have more to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!
