Starting school: 12 questions about first grade
1. what is different in school than in kindergarten?
Your child now goes to a large school where there are lots and lots of older children and there is a lot of hustle and bustle during the breaks. The class structure is larger and more mixed. There are several classrooms, new subjects and lots of new teachers. More stamina is required of him at school than in kindergarten. Coping with all this takes a lot of energy. Therefore, make sure that your son or daughter has enough free time at home to play and relax.
2 What if my child does not want to go to school?
Just as we adults sometimes struggle to get up and get our day's work done, children sometimes simply don't feel like getting up early and going to school. This is completely normal and is almost always just a phase. If this lasts for weeks, you should be vigilant and talk to the teacher.
3. does my child have to be able to do maths and read?
No. Studies clearly show that children who are instructed by their parents to learn reading and maths at an early age are no more successful at school than children who are not pushed to do so and have more freedom at home.
4. what time should my child leave in the morning?
Sometimes children are so excited that they want to go to school at an early time. However, there are in fact certain, very narrow time windows in which the school doors only open - ask the school management or teacher about this. If the child is at the school door very early (before 8 a.m., for example), they will have to wait outside. This is particularly unpleasant in winter.
5 When will I receive the new timetable?
You will receive the timetable by post from the class teacher in June. It tells you when your child has lessons. This is important because childcare for children in the first class often has to be rearranged. You should therefore look for a new form of childcare early on. The timetable lists all subjects as well as the respective teachers and contact addresses.
6 How do I recognise whether my child is really ready for school?
A child's intellectual development is only one aspect of school readiness. Equally important are physical development and health, a certain work ethic, motivation and willingness to learn and social behaviour that enables the child to cope independently with everyday life at primary school. It is also important to be able to understand instructions and express one's needs. Many paediatricians emphasise that «socio-emotional skills» are more important for successful school enrolment than intellectual skills.
7 Does my child still need a snack?
The school snack is different in many schools than in kindergarten. There, the children ate together with the teacher in peace and quiet. Now the snack is eaten during the big break and is eaten standing up, running around or on the climbing frame. At the beginning, the child has so many new impressions to process that eating a snack is sometimes forgotten. Nevertheless, learning and playing make you hungry. Please make sure you give your child a snack to take to school every day. Fruit, vegetables, bread or wholemeal crackers help children to learn. Sweets and sweet drinks are not part of a healthy snack.
8 What can I do if I realise that my child needs help with learning?
Talk to your child's teacher. The school offers a wide range of supportive special and remedial educational measures for children with special needs. It is important to all teachers that children enjoy going to school. They will be happy to support you.
9 What are joker days?
These are additional days off that can be used to extend holidays or for special occasions. In the canton of Zurich, there are two joker days per school year and child. They can be taken on a daily basis or en bloc. The class teacher must be informed in writing a few days in advance (varies depending on the school). A justification is not necessary. To use joker days to extend holidays, you must contact the class teacher. Please note: Every school has its own rules and not every school allows students to go on holiday earlier thanks to joker days. Joker days that are not taken expire at the end of the school year.
10. is there homework in the first class?
This is very different. Each teacher can actually decide for themselves whether, how often and how much homework they give the children. In any case, the rule of thumb «10 minutes per class per day» should not be exceeded. If your child spends more than 10 minutes a day (or 20 minutes if they only have homework every other day) on an assignment, let the teacher know and seek a dialogue.
11. can my child change groups?
Nothing is impossible, even at school. However, there must be a compelling reason for a child to change groups. Just because the best friend from kindergarten is in the other group is not enough justification. However, if it concerns childcare or the parents' workload and the group constellation allows it, there is (usually) nothing to prevent a change of group. Please discuss this with your child's teacher.
12 What happens if the teacher falls ill?
In the event of an unexpected school cancellation, for example due to teacher illness, lessons will still take place in the morning. The children will then be allocated to other classes at short notice. If the absence lasts longer, a substitute will be organised. As a rule, you will be informed in writing of any changes to the school day.
Book tip: Starting school
Saskia Niechzial: Hello back to school. Accompanying the transition from kindergarten to school in a relationship-orientated way. Beltz 2023, 272 pages, approx. 27 francs.
Arriving at school anxiety-free is an experience that has a lasting impact on a child's further development at school. Parents play a decisive role in this. The renowned educationalist and mother Saskia Niechzial supports parents in accompanying their children through kindergarten and the start of primary school in a relationship-orientated way, letting them go lovingly while remaining a safe haven - even when things get bumpy or mothers and fathers are confronted with their own insecurities and fears.
