Less ABCs, more Ps and Qs

Preparing for Primary 1

- Jane Ng

Getting a child ready for primary school is a milestone, especially for first-time parents.

Well-meaning mums and dads may want to cover all bases by sending their child for Primary 1 preparation classes.

While it may be tempting to ensure a child is ready in every way possible, educators share why it is not necessary to over-prepare him academically as it may kill his curiosity and keenness for learning.

MYTH 1: I NEED TO SEND MY CHILD FOR PRIMARY 1 PREPARATION CLASSES OR BUY HIM ASSESSMENT BOOKS

A common pitfall is over-preparing a child academically for Primary 1, says Mrs Sharon Siew, principal of Jing Shan Primary School. She has 33 years of experience in education, including 17 years as a principal.

Overwhelming a child with academic enrichment classes may be counterproductive, she says.

"Parents may be robbing their child of the joy of learning new things together with his classmates. Without the anticipation and excitement of discovery, learning may become a bore and a chore to your child, which may be detrimental for his overall growth," she adds.

Instead, Mrs Siew says a key in the transition from pre-school to Primary 1 is for parents to have realistic expectations and to prioritise their child's holistic development.

She notes that there may be children who need more support to get ready for primary school. For instance, they may need more guidance and time to write their own name, count accurately up to 10 or recognise some letters of the alphabet.

Parents can reinforce these skills, which have been taught in the child's pre-school, by providing opportunities to practise at home, she suggests.

Dr Mercy Karuniah Jesuvadian, a senior lecturer in psychology and child and human development from the National Institute of Education, agrees. She says it is not very critical to write in full sentences when children begin school.