“The roots of education are bitter but the fruit is sweet”, these famous words of Aristotle remind us about the struggle of getting our child to cross the hurdle of the first interview. The exercise ranges from deciding the school to securing admission and settling your tot in the new atmosphere. In today’s competitive world, the admission process in schools has also become more complex and tough. Unlike before, a child as well as the parents are subject to school interviews and in some cases, written tests too. In this article let us look into the top 12 tips to help your child crack the first school interview.
The school admission is particularly considered a herculean task. It is more testing time for the parents, than the kids. Getting the child acquainted with the atmosphere and preparing them to perform as per the norms of the school is a tiresome task. Let us look into the tips that eases your work.
In This Article
- Why Do Schools Conduct Interviews for Admission?
- 20 Tips to Prepare Your Child for the First School Interview
Why Do Schools Conduct Interviews for Admission?
Most schools have mandatory oral interviews, while some of them conduct written entrance tests also. Though there have been many debates and opinions on the way these tests are conducted, it may well be mentioned here that these school interviews assess the students, their readiness for school, and to some extent, the parents.
School interviews help school authorities figure out any special needs of your child so as to enable any required learning support. School interviews also gauge your child’s readiness for kindergarten entry, and help to get to know a student beyond the academics. It also helps parents to question and ask anything they would like to know about a school.
20 Tips to Prepare Your Child for the First School Interview
Your child’s academic journey is about to begin and like every parent, you are excited for this new chapter in your kid’s life. The first step towards your child’s academic life is preparing them for their first school interview. Most parents train and prepare their child for the first school interview on their own. Presented below are some pointers to help you prepare your child for their first interview, and we hope that we’d succeed in taking some stress off you.
1. Built the Rapport with Your Child
According to Psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, a child goes through various stages of psychological transformation. The age between 0-2 years is about hope and trust. The trust developed by the child for the parents can be used in building the confidence in a child. You should develop a good open relationship with your child so that they feel they can trust you. Click here to know the top 10 secrets to bond with your kid.
2. Research About the First School Interview
Do a thorough research about the school in which you want your child to be admitted into. All schools are very specific about what they expect from their future pupils. Inquire what will be asked during the interview and written test(s). Jot these down and start preparing bang on! You can even get in touch with the parents of kids who are already studying in the respective school and get hands-on advice from them.
Collect as much information as possible including the questions commonly asked in the particular school. This will help you in preparing your child to face the interview and you will not be caught unawares.
3. Keep a Peer Check
See if someone else you know is also trying to get admission in the same school. Keep a check whether your neighbors or your ward’s friends are taking admission in the same school. If so, you can develop a bond with them and allow your child to mingle with the same crowd so that they won’t feel they are in a strange place.
4. Brush the Basics
Even if the school authorities do not particularly mention about questioning shape and colors during admission, it is expected that your child would know them. Start with the name of the respective school, parents, their profession, home address, country etc. Also brush up other essentials such as colors, alphabets, numbers, fruits, vegetables, shapes, flowers, and the national anthem of the country.
5. Make a Routine
Regularly spend time with your child to teach them. Make a routine when you let go of the fun part and ask them to focus on the learning part. Though this will be tricky for a toddler, a gradual persistent approach will show results.
6. Play Smart
The authorities will judge your child’s communication, interaction, motor, cognitive and academic skills. Identify your child’s shortcomings and work harder on that aspect. It could be speech, body language, attention, handwriting, anything. Puzzle solving is another great way to hone a kid’s dexterity and problem solving skills.
7. Devise a Plan for the First School Interview
Involve your kid in household activities such as putting away their own dishes, arranging toys, pouring milk etc. Incorporate skills (communication/interaction/motor) into daily routines. All these skills require time to develop and should be started as soon as possible rather than a month before the admission test.
8. Be Strict with Cleanliness
Imagine your tot being rewarded a chocolate by the headmistress for faring well through the interview, and they litter the chocolate wrapper on their table! Yes, cleanliness habits reflect in the school interview. They may also be asked whether they wash hands before eating/after using the toilet? Teach your child to be neat and clean right from childhood. Keep practicing cleanliness exercises in the play way method. Teach cleanliness rituals to your kid, practice, preach and follow the same.
9. Dress Appropriately for the First School Interview
Dress your child neatly. Oil and comb the child’s hair properly. Avoid glittery and frilly dresses, and try to make your child wear minimal accessories. Dress the child in comfortable, airy clothes. Even for you, try wearing simple formal clothes. Avoid bright and gaudy colors and glitter ornaments.
10. No Cramming Zone
Parents of a toddler must know the fact that we are not talking to an adult person but to a child who cannot understand the difference between worldly mannerisms and cannot follow everything in a single practice. We need to go slow with a child. One step at a time. Train them, don’t foster them with the habit of cramming.
11. Praise and Encourage the Precious
Encourage your child for each good act. Give some small gifts for their small achievements. Never underestimate your child. But over praising also can cause trouble. So praise and encourage positively. The Stanford Marshmallow experiment has shown that simple gifts such as cookies or chocolates can be used as a tool to teach a kid life skills in a simple way.
12. Tackle the Tantrums
As our little chums are closer to us more than anything in this world we tend to shower them with all the love. This sometimes makes them a little aggressive and demanding. You have to make them understand that they have to behave themselves while outside. Throwing tantrums in public should be handled with trick and compassion. This helps the child to be calm in school.
13. Encourage Them to Talk
Most children shy from expressing their views in front of strangers. To overcome this hurdle during admission, target their social interaction. You may let your kid recite poems to elders; insist on conversing in English at family gatherings or with your office mates. Ask them to introduce themselves by making eye contact, shaking hands and answering questions. Encourage them to order their meals at a restaurant or answer the phone.
14. Make Learning Fun
Boost the learning process of your child by helping them observe hoardings, the colors and alphabets in them, the number plates of vehicles, certain words written on books, newspapers or the display boards at shops and malls. Make learning more fun and interactive.
15. Stimulate Curiosity
The authorities may want to test the observation skills and alertness. Always point to the things in your child’s surroundings and encourage them to understand the scenario. Ask them questions and allow them to question each thing. Be patient and answer all questions. Clear the doubt(s) in any possible way you can. This is actually preparation to face the school interview. This way the child automatically becomes confident and well informed.This helps in developing his interests and knowledge.
16. Develop Social Etiquette
First impression is the last impression. Teach your kid to greet good morning, shake hands, and refrain from picking noses. Make sure they address “mam/sir” not aunty/uncle to authorities. Give some tips on greeting someone with a handshake and hello. Ask them to calmly voice their opinion instead of crying. Provide them with a clean handkerchief and polished shoes. A child who says “sorry” and “thank you” definitely creates a good impression not only about the kid but of the entire family. Good posture and pleasant expressions are also crucial.
17. Don’t Stress Your Child About the First School interview
Do not pressurize your child with your worries. This will make them nervous. Ensure healthy and enjoyable preparation. Allow them to rest and provide healthy food. Reward their efforts rather than pressurizing them to attain goals.
18. Do Your Homework
Parents are also asked various questions when they come to a school seeking admission for their child. You might be asked about your interests, activities, lifestyle and work. Some schools also ask parents how they deal with challenging situations like fussy eaters and striking the child. Be sure you do not run a surprised face there!
19. Briefing About the First School Interview
Brief your child about the first school interview and the questions to be asked in the interview. Take your child to the school before the interview and show them the campus, allowing them to interact with people over there. Most of the school allows this in order to break the normal belief that Kindergarten interview is a nightmare for the kid.
20. Spread Glee
Most important thing, ask them to smile generously. Crack jokes or make them happy so that they will be relaxed. Children, especially between the ages of 2 to 4 years, perform well in happy surroundings. They bring out their best in academics and also co-curricular activities when they are happy. A child’s smile is heavenly and pays off all the dues.
Apart from these, familiarize your child with the interview/test environment by conducting mock tests. If you falter, feel free to approach performance coaches; they’ll help you and your kid in preparing for admission. Also, rehearse the anticipated questions for your (parent’s interview). Do not overdress or empower the ambiance with your perfume or a Gucci bag. Lastly, chill! Stay positive and make this admission preparation fun for your little one.
“Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time”. – Rabindranath Tagore
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