We’ll have to admit it: the transition from childcare to school life is a scary jump.

It’s a mixture of excitement, fear, and a lot of uncertainty – and it’s something that will set your child in an entirely different playing field.

You can expect a spectrum of reactions: on one extreme, your child might smile at the thought of meeting new people, exploring new avenues of life, and discovering more about the world around them. However, your child might not like the idea of taking that leap; the mere thought of experiencing something new might scare them into never wanting to leave the childcare phase.

Now, we can’t blame the children. Who wouldn’t be afraid of entering such a monumental phase of life, where one gets to experience a bit more of the world for the first time? The trick to break the curse of never-ending tantrums is to make the transition as seamless and smooth as possible – and here’s how you can do that:

Know Your Child’s Capabilities

It’s never wise to enter the playing field without knowing at least something about the game itself.

So before you send your child off to their first day of school, know where they stand academically – are they quick learners, or slow thinkers? Do they enjoy studying or dislike it? How well do they interact with others? You must know the answers to these kinds of questions before your child takes their first step into their classroom; that way, you won’t be forcing them in a situation they don’t like.

It is highly advised that parents get in contact with their child’s practitioners at daycare; they will have a better idea of how your child interacts beyond their home, and can even give advice on how to manage them better in social settings.

Prepare Your Child Mentally

The number one reason most children cry and tug at their parents’ hands on their first day of school is because it’s something they never expected to happen. Parents think that not telling their children about it is better than breaking the news first – but the truth is the exact opposite!

What we mean is that preparing your child mentally is important if you want them to learn how to manage their expectations.

Now, we’re not expecting some Professor X-level of mental coercion. You can start with baby steps, by introducing the idea of studying in a class with other children is an exciting prospect, where they should enjoy themselves. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, and don’t lie – because that just exasperates problems. Instead, maintain a positive attitude about the idea, and your child will eventually catch on.

In the next phase, make your child be more independent in basic tasks like buttoning up their coat, wearing their shoes, going to the toilet, and the like. You can even take it one step further by introducing them to puzzles and activities that improves their thinking and concentration skills, so that they don’t experience any learning problems.

Visit The Venue

We just mentioned how making the transition smooth is the best way to get rid of the anxiety both child and parent experience. And what’s a better way to do that than to pay a visit?

Schedule a day (or more than a day!) to visit the school with your child. Have them take a look at the classes, playgrounds – and even the toilets – so that they can navigate themselves around better. Have them interact with their teachers, principal, and maybe a few fellow future classmates; that way, your child will feel a lot more comfortable when they enter the premises next time without you.


It is no secret that the transition to school from childcare will be smooth if your launching platform is stable. That’s why it’s important that your child joins a good childcare centre.

In fact, a good nursery in JLT is Oakfield Early Learning Centre, which makes the phase change from childcare to school easy and efficient through committed practitioners. These practitioners keep parents updated on their child’s progress, and even help further in complicated procedures like school placement. Oakfield ultimately makes sure that parents are not completely in the dark while making the big jump.

In the end, this transition might be inevitable – but it doesn’t have to be difficult for you, or your little one.