Prep News by Melinda White
Prep News!
What a different start to school we’ve had, first with the delayed start and last week with all the weather. We are sure our Prep students will take this all in their stride and be quick to return to routine, with our help and support. Remember, this is all they know. They take their cues from us. If we remain upbeat and positive and we model resilience, then they become what they see. At school, we use language like, “it’s okay to be sad, but then we work hard to turn that around.” Or, “it’s okay to be cranky that we missed out on that activity because it was raining. But now we are going to take some deep breaths and think about what we can do instead that will be fun.”
You can help to support your child at home by trying some of the following ideas.
*Minimising the amount of media coverage in your home. In our home, we don’t watch the news. It’s not that my children don’t know what’s going on, but by limiting the visual news, we can control the way we explain the Big Things to our little ones.
*Keeping a sense of calm and explaining things in a way that very small children understand. There is a fine line between just enough information, so that our young children don’t worry about the unknown and knowing every little detail, in too much detail.
*Getting outdoors and into nature - so important after so many days inside due to the rain.
*Facilitating play. Mix the toys up, put out something new that your child can explore. It doesn’t have to be purchased - pots and pans and plastic containers make wonderful exploration toys too!
*Having conversations with your child. Let them take the lead. Connect with them and chat, rather than just giving instructions (which is sometimes what happens in busy households!). At the moment in our house, we are reading a chapter of Charlotte’s Web together each night. It’s time together that is “quarantined” and my children know it. It’s built into our routine. So we read and chat before bedtime.
If you have been impacted by the rain and flooding, please touch base with your child’s teacher. We’re here to support you in any way we can.
Tomorrow afternoon, March 10, mark your calendars for our Stay and Play afternoon. It’s a chance for us to connect with you and for you to connect with other families. We’d really love to see you! SOLE Café will be open for afternoon tea and coffee, so make sure you visit them before Stay and Play – every coffee you buy supports our school.
Take care, take a breath; we’ve got this Team Prep!
Have a lovely week
Melinda White
Deputy Principal - Prep
mwhit37@eq.edu.au