El primer día de colegio nunca es fácil para nadie. Ni para nuestro pequeño, ni para nosotros. Están a punto de experimentar un mundo nuevo, experiencias nuevas, conocerán personajes nuevos, otras formas de ver y concebir el mundo. Lo es para un niño sin discapacidad y con recursos de comunicación y anticipación así que aún será más difícil para nuestros niños con necesidades educativas especiales.
This can cause a multitude of problems, which, as parents, we must be ready to know and face and how we can help with the process to make all those involved coordinate and encourage the most dynamic and smooth adaptation possible.
- EARLY SCHOOLING: It is from the age of 3 that our child will enter the educational system . Although this first stage is not mandatory, practically all children between 3 and 5 years old are enrolled in school. Furthermore, on many occasions, schooling is recommended even before the age of 3 when we are dealing with a child with autism or social and learning difficulties.
- PREPARATION: Previous steps for the Family.
- Prepare an “Information for professionals” document.
It would be interesting and essential to prepare a document where we can detail all the information related to our child that can be helpful to all those involved in our child's schooling process.
- What he is like: his personality, his attitude and his disposition.
- What do you like to do in your free time: what type of activities do you like and prefer.
- How it communicates: presents language, some type of alternative or gestural communication.
- What difficulties do you have: what aspects must be taken into account in your daily management as prevention and objective to work on within the classroom.
- What are their favorite objects: it would also be interesting if we can provide them so that they can be used at that moment to convey the bond with the teacher and they will help the child become familiar with the person and the space.
- What expectations do you have for the school year: share everything you believe the school can help in the development and growth of your child.
C. FIRST CONTACT: Previous interview with the Teacher in the Classroom.
It is recommended that before the beginning of the course there is a space where the child knows the classroom and the teacher who will be his or her reference throughout the year and can count on their support in this adaptation phase.
All children have their adaptation period and it takes place sooner or later in the process and there may be refusals and sometimes it may be accompanied by tears, screaming and even tantrums. Transmitting security and confidence will be the main objective, to ensure that the child little by little accepts the situation and adapts to this new world that he is going to know.
D. FIRST DAY: A while is enough.
El primer día de colegio puede ser bastante traumático para un niño con necesidades educativas especiales si se dilata demasiado. El objetivo de este primer día es ver el aula y el ambiente en todo su conjunto. Niños llorando, niños jugando, riendo y gritando, nuevos materiales, nuevas personas…
E. ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED: We adapt without losing the Reference.
It is recommended that we still have a Reference within the classroom. You have to carefully assess who the Referent is based on the attachment you have with the child as well as the ease and consequence of the Referent's actions in this process. The adaptation process is also hard for parents, so you have to carefully assess which reference figure is appropriate in each case. This reference will accompany the child at all times but will not be active , that person will act as a pillar but will not intervene with the child or participate in the activities, he will share if the child shows him something but it will appear as something quite "boring and not very tempting and attractive to the child”, carrying a reading book can be a very good option to help the referrer in this task. In such a way that the child is more attracted to what the teacher does, the materials, the children... and we can help the bond, comfort and familiarity in the space.
F. NEXT DAYS: The moments lengthen.
Making the expansion of time in the classroom gradual is one of the greatest successes of this process, we will increase the time hour by hour each day until we reach noon of schooling to begin the next process. The times will be measured according to the child's reactions.
G. END OF ADAPTATION: The departures of the Referent begin.
Just like the previous process, the Referent can gradually :
- Change places in space.
- Go to the bathroom and come back in 2 minutes.
- Desaparecer 15 min, 30min, 60 min…
En todo momento la profesora tendrá el teléfono del Referente para poder llamarlo si lo considera necesario. Hasta que juntos determinen que la adaptación se ha realizado y permanezca todo el tiempo dentro del aula hasta la comida unos días hasta que ya esté preparado para permanecer el día completo.
El periodo de adaptación es un momento muy bonito donde damos a nuestros hijos las herramientas para caminar seguros y autónomos en el segundo espacio social que conocen. La diversidad en los niños da una riqueza y una oportunidad de crecimiento para todo el grupo clase increíble. Es un momento donde desarrollamos habilidades sociales y nos sentimos parte de un grupo, un momento para sentirse queridos y valorados como parte activa de un grupo. Cuidar y mimar este proceso hará que profesionales y familia disfruten mucho más desde el proceso y tengan la oportunidad de hacer un transbase mucho más completo, más informado y real que lanzar a nuestros niños sin apoyo, rápido y ante personas profesionales pero no informadas.
“Education is getting what you want in life without harming anyone.”
