It’s the start of the new school year here in South Korea. Each year, the school year in South Korea begins on March 2nd. It’s after Lunar New Year celebrations have come to an end and the day after Korea’s Independence Movement Day. These are some tips on how to help tackle some of the anxieties your child might have about going back to school after the break.
The winter school holiday has come to an end. Whether your child is just taking their first step into school, or starting a new grade as a returning student, it’s time to start considering how they can put their best foot forward and get ready for the year ahead.
And, while some students are excited to meet their new teacher or catch up with their friends, others are more concerned about the new semester. More and more kids are experiencing back to school anxiety, especially as we emerge out of the pandemic.
As a parent, you can certainly lessen your child’s anxiety about their first day at school by being positive about school. Here are several suggestions for a stress-free start to the new school year. Let’s help our kids get back on track and stay motivated!
Visit the Classroom in Advance
This is especially crucial if your child is returning to in-person learning after periods of remote learning.
You can give your child a tour of the school to help them recognize their class, the restrooms, and the locations to be picked up. Additionally, if you are in South Korea, you can show your child the bus/subway routes, or where their school van will drop them off. You can do this even if the teachers do not invite families to visit ahead of time.
Back to School Books
Stories with relatable characters, especially those with characters attending their first day of school are particularly effective for relieving first-day jitters and providing a boost of confidence where needed.
In doing so, parents can find a read-aloud that allows them moments to pause and ask their child what they’re feeling or thinking about in terms of the new semester. Reading together is genuinely a great way to start a conversation.
Have Open Conversations About Back to School Anxiety
Talk to your child regarding their feelings of back to school anxiety. What are their impressions of their school, classmates, and teachers, as well as new activities?
SEL and Back to School Anxiety
Social-emotional learning, generally known as SEL, is a prevailing topic among educators today. It is widely incorporated into the curriculum in many school systems. SEL refers to the ways in which children develop positive and healthy relationships with themselves and with others.
This framework of self-awareness can literally begin at home. When discussing back-to-school, you might gauge your child’s thoughts about the classroom. For instance, parents can ask their children what they are anticipating and what they are interested in learning, along with any concerns they might have, especially worries about being bullied in school.
And so the new adventure begins~ Happy first day of school!
Want to learn a bit more about sending multicultural and immigrant kids to school in South Korea? Click Here for information on international schools in Korea.
Ni mwanzo wa mwaka mpya wa shule hapa Korea Kusini. Mwaka wa shule nchini Korea Kusini huanza tarehe 2 Machi. Ni baada ya sherehe za Mwaka Mpya wa Lunar kumalizika na siku baada ya Siku ya Harakati ya Uhuru wa Korea. Hapa kuna vidokezo vya jinsi ya kusaidia kushughulikia baadhi ya wasiwasi mtoto wako anaweza kuwa na kuhusu kurudi shule baada ya mapumziko. Likizo ya majira ya baridi kali ya shule imekwisha. Ikiwa mtoto wako anachukua hatua yake ya kwanza kwenda shule, au kuanza darasa jipya kama mwanafunzi wa kurudi, ni wakati wa kuanza kuzingatia jinsi wanaweza kuweka mguu wao bora mbele na kujiandaa kwa mwaka ujao. Wakati wanafunzi wengine wanafurahi kukutana na mwalimu wao mpya au kukutana na marafiki zao, wengine wana wasiwasi zaidi juu ya muhula mpya. Watoto wengi wana wasiwasi wa kurudi shule, hasa wakati wa janga. Kama mzazi, unaweza kupunguza wasiwasi wa mtoto wako kuhusu siku yake ya kwanza shuleni kwa kuwa na mtazamo mzuri kuhusu shule. Hapa kuna mapendekezo kadhaa ya kuanza mwaka mpya wa shule bila mkazo. Hebu kuwasaidia watoto wetu kupata nyuma juu ya kufuatilia na kukaa kuhamasishwa! Kujifunza kwa njia ya darasa ni muhimu sana ikiwa mtoto wako anarudi kwenye masomo ya kibinafsi baada ya kipindi cha kujifunza kwa mbali. Msaidie mtoto wako kugundua darasa lake, vyoo, na mahali pa kukusanya. Kwa kuongezea, ikiwa uko Korea Kusini, unaweza kumwonyesha mtoto wako njia za basi au za chini ya ardhi, au mahali ambapo gari lao la shule litamwachia. Unaweza kufanya hivyo hata kama walimu hawawaombi familia ziwatembelee mapema. "Kwenye vitabu vya ""Return to School"" hadithi na wahusika wanaohusiana, haswa wale ambao wahusika wanahudhuria siku yao ya kwanza ya shule, ni ufanisi hasa kwa kupunguza wasiwasi wa siku ya kwanza na kutoa kichocheo cha ujasiri wakati inahitajika." Kwa kufanya hivyo, wazazi wanaweza kupata kusoma kwa sauti ambayo inaruhusu wao wakati kusimamishwa na kuuliza mtoto wao nini wao ni hisia au kufikiri kuhusu katika suala la muhula mpya. Kusoma pamoja ni njia nzuri ya kuanzisha mazungumzo. Zungumza na mtoto wako kuhusu wasiwasi wa kurudi shule. Wana maoni gani kuhusu shule yao, wanadarasa wenzao, na walimu, na pia kuhusu shughuli mpya? SEL (Sosial-Emotional Learning) ni somo la kawaida kati ya walimu. Inaingizwa sana katika mtaala katika mifumo mingi ya shule. SEL inahusu njia ambazo watoto huendeleza mahusiano mazuri na yenye afya na wao wenyewe na wengine. Mfumo huu wa kujijua waweza kuanza nyumbani. Unapozungumza na mtoto wako kuhusu kurudi shuleni, unaweza kumweleza jinsi anavyohisi kuhusu shule. Kwa mfano, wazazi wanaweza kuwauliza watoto wao wanatarajia nini na wanataka kujifunza nini, pamoja na wasiwasi wowote ambao wanaweza kuwa nao, hasa wasiwasi kuhusu kudhulumiwa shuleni. Na hivyo adventure mpya huanza ~ Siku ya kwanza ya furaha ya shule! Je, unataka kujifunza zaidi kuhusu jinsi ya kuwapeleka watoto wa tamaduni mbalimbali na wahamiaji shuleni nchini Korea Kusini? Bonyeza hapa kwa habari juu ya shule za kimataifa nchini Korea.