Adaptation to kindergarten: periods and stages, negative reaction of the child, help from parents

The grown-up child enjoys communicating with peers, and parents strive to send active children to kindergarten as soon as possible. But sometimes haste turns into problems, and the child’s adaptation does not go the way mom and dad would like.

Always cheerful and active, the baby suddenly becomes irritable, refuses to go to kindergarten, and cries. Of course, such behavior cannot but upset. How should parents behave in this situation? How to speed up and simplify adaptation to the new living conditions and communication of the baby? And how to teach a child to go to kindergarten without crying? These questions were answered by candidate of psychological sciences, child psychologist Olga Arkhipova .

What is child adaptation

Adaptation is the body's adaptation to a new environment.
We are also talking about the child’s adaptation to kindergarten. At first, such an institution for any child is an unknown and alien space, with new people and relationships. The process of addiction requires serious mental costs, often accompanied by tension and even exhaustion of physical and mental strength.

Some manifestations of the child’s mood during the days of adaptation cause anxiety in parents, causing them to doubt that he will be able to go through this period without a serious nervous breakdown. It is important to remember: behavioral features that often worry parents are often typical when adapting to kindergarten.

Almost all mothers, faced with changes in the behavior of their little daughter or son, come to the conclusion that kindergarten is “not for us.” It seems to parents that other members of the group did not experience similar symptoms, or that they were not so pronounced. This is wrong. Adaptation is characterized by various negative manifestations that occur at all levels. Once in an unusual environment, a baby almost always experiences nervous stress, which is especially pronounced in the first days. Let's take a closer look at the most common symptoms of this difficult period and find out how long it lasts.

Degrees of adaptation

An easy degree of adaptation (up to 1 month) is usually characteristic of physically healthy, sociable children with high psychological stability. The fact that adaptation is taking place can be easily judged by several signs:

The child happily goes to kindergarten and joins the group;
Contact has been established with the teacher;
The baby plays with other children;
There are no negative emotions when performing routine moments (eating, walking, exercising, sleeping);
The general emotional background is consistently positive.

In general, during adaptation, the baby may experience a decrease in appetite, worsening sleep, pain, tearfulness and moodiness. This is normal, because the child’s body experiences stress and mobilizes all its strength to cope with it.

The average degree of adaptation (1 – 2 months) is characterized by the fact that the child does not experience serious difficulties when visiting kindergarten. Emotional outbursts are situational and short-term. There may be a decrease in immunity. Peculiarities of manifestation of adaptation of medium degree:

A difficult separation from your mother (or other significant adult) before joining the group;
Decreased activity, deterioration of speech and temporary loss of skills;
The baby cries for some time after the mother leaves and does not contact others;
However, the tension quickly subsides, the child begins to pay attention to toys, peers, the teacher, and joins in the general activity;
Most regime moments do not cause difficulties.

A severe degree of adaptation (2-6 months) is accompanied by frequent illnesses, whims and hysterics, and a depressed emotional state of the baby during most of the time in kindergarten. The child's stress can be so strong that it affects his behavior at home and relationships with his parents. Signs of severe adaptation also include the following:

The child systematically does not want to go to kindergarten;
The baby gets scared and does not trust the teacher;
In a group, he is not distracted by games and is constantly in tension;
Lack of contact with peers;
Aggression towards other children.

If the child is having a hard time going through the adaptation process, it is necessary to discuss this issue with the teacher and consult with a psychologist. Only the common efforts of each party in this case will lead to success. Some children cannot adapt to the conditions of kindergarten at all, but this phenomenon is extremely rare.

Adaptation period

There are several degrees of child adaptation in kindergarten.

Mild degree

Usually lasts up to a week. This is a fairly short period, characterized by the baby’s poor sleep, loss of appetite, and reluctance to play with other babies. Gradually everything returns to normal, complete adaptation to the new conditions begins. By the end of the first week, appetite returns to its previous level, and sleep patterns take a little longer to recover. Speech inhibition may occur. Usually this degree of adaptation is not accompanied by sudden illnesses.

Average degree

Lasts from a week to a month. The baby’s emotional state returns to normal more slowly than with a mild form. In the first month, illnesses begin to appear: usually in the form of acute respiratory infections. The disease lasts about a week and ends without complications. It takes a month or a little more to restore your appetite. The emotional background is unstable, the mood often changes. During the day there is tearfulness. In relationships with close people, the child is emotionally excited: when parting and meeting, he cries or screams. The attitude towards peers is often indifferent, but they can also show interest. Speech activity slows down.

Characteristic external manifestations:

red cheeks or paleness;
dark circles under the eyes;
sweating;
diathesis.

These symptoms last for about 2 weeks. Feeling the emotional support of a loved one, the child begins to show cognitive activity and adapts faster.

Severe degree

The most difficult degree of adaptation of a child is in kindergarten, lasting 1-2 months (or more). The baby's emotional state is recovering very slowly. A preschooler can suffer from several diseases that come with complications.

Severe degree is characterized by persistent behavioral disturbances:

Sleep is intermittent, restless.
The baby may wake up crying or scream in his sleep.
Appetite practically disappears - sometimes to the point of refusing to eat.
Neurotic vomiting is possible.

The child consciously and unconsciously tries to get out of the situation, and all his emotions are directed towards this: screaming, crying, aggression. An active motor process or lack of activity may be observed with obvious negative emotions (depression, passive submission, quiet crying, tension). The child tries to avoid his peers and may become aggressive. Refuses to play games.

How to help your child adapt to kindergarten?

Most adults are worried about leaving their child in kindergarten. This is quite normal, since the baby is there alone among unfamiliar adults and equally confused peers.

But every parent wants to help their child easily overcome such a difficult period! How to do it? Teachers and psychologists give the following recommendations:

Parents' anxiety increases the baby's fears, so try to be calm and balanced, surrounding your child with a sense of security.
Talk to your child about kindergarten. This is good to do at the preparatory stage of adaptation: arouse his interest, tell him how many children there are and how much fun they have, what games he can play with them.
While walking, pass by a kindergarten, draw your child’s attention to the bright playgrounds and children frolicking there, making him want to join. Try to walk more often in any weather, let your child get used to the fact that you will go to preschool in both snow and rain. The purpose of conversations and walks around the kindergarten is to create a positive image, an understanding of how fun, calm and safe it is, even in the absence of parents.
Talk through your baby's daily routine: breakfast, games, walk, lunch, sleep, dinner, and so on. Let him know at what point you will come for him today, so that the child is calm and knows that after dinner he will see his mother again. And be sure to come at the specified time.
Together with your child, come up with a farewell ritual. It can be anything: a kiss, a handshake, clapping your hands, tickling or funny sounds. It is important to adhere to this ritual before parting in the garden and outside it. This will give the baby a feeling of security.
If the kindergarten rules allow, allow your child to take his favorite toy with him. In the absence of parents, it will give peace and remind you of home, where it is so warm and cozy.
If it is difficult for a child to part with his mother, then the father or another family member can take him to kindergarten.
During the adaptation period, try not to start something new and generally change your usual way of life (for example, travel, moving, long business trips for parents, divorce) so that the child does not have reasons for additional stress.
Read books in which the main characters started attending kindergarten. Publications with such stories can be easily found in any bookstore. Create different situations with your baby’s favorite toys: “Tim the Rabbit with the children on a walk”, “Nina the Horse sleeps in a quiet hour” and so on. Let these stories become familiar and understandable to the child.

What factors influence a child’s adaptation?

There are many important factors that influence adaptation to kindergarten:

The state of the child's health and level of development . A well-developed and almost disease-free preschooler copes more easily with the difficulties of social adaptation.
Presence of favorite games or subject activities . This helps to engage him in relevant activities.
Age . Adaptation is more difficult in children under two years of age. Having crossed this line, they more easily adapt to new conditions. There is a simple explanation for this: as children grow up, they become more inquisitive and gain more experience in how to behave in different situations.
Personality traits . Children of the same age category may behave differently during the adaptation period. Some may fall into a stressful state, ceasing to show interest in the world around them or showing obvious protest. However, a short period passes, and behavior returns to normal: appetite, sleep, and mood return. Other children may not outwardly show their anxiety for the first few days, but after a few days their tension spills out: their mood worsens, they do not want to part with their parents. This category of children requires the help of loved ones and a teacher. Be careful: subordinate reactions can last a long time, resulting in serious illnesses.
Gender . Adaptation is more difficult for boys, since in preschool age they are more attached to their parents, and it is difficult to bear parting with them.
Family and living conditions . We are talking about creating a regime for the baby in accordance with his individual characteristics and age, developing skills and abilities. If the family does not create the right conditions for the child’s development, without teaching him basic skills, then it will not be easy for him to get used to kindergarten. Adaptation is not easy for only children in the family, especially if they are overprotected and dependent on their mother or father.

Causes of difficult adaptation

Let us highlight separately the reasons why adaptation is difficult:

The absence of a regime at home that coincides with that established in kindergarten.
Inability to occupy oneself independently.
Having specific habits.
Lack of basic skills.
Lack of experience communicating with an unfamiliar environment.

Factors indicating the end of the adaptation period

There are factors characteristic of completing adaptation to kindergarten:

A good appetite.
Deep sleep.
Cheerfulness and good mood.
Restoration of previously acquired skills, vigor.
Age-appropriate weight gain.

How to teach a child to go to kindergarten if he cries

Children's tears are the main alarm signal for parents. After all, it seems impossible to leave a sobbing child with a teacher and calmly go to work. There may be several reasons for tears in this case, and it is important for parents to eliminate each of them.

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Change of environment and daily routine. Finding yourself in a new atmosphere is already unusual and alarming for a baby. In addition, he is surrounded by friendly, but still strangers. Against this background, the baby needs to get used to discipline, which is not so important at home. The daily routine is changing: you need to eat at a set time, and not when you want. You need to go to bed by the hour. These gentle but insistent demands from teachers can cause violent protest, and along with it, a reluctance to attend kindergarten and tears every morning. In this situation, parents need to bring the home daily routine as close as possible to the kindergarten one. It is ideal to accustom your baby to it several months before visiting the garden. And if the baby already goes to nursery, then on weekends you cannot deviate from the routine. Morning awakenings, breakfast, snacks, and naps should be done at a clearly set time.
Excess of impressions. Most parents talk about how interesting it is in kindergarten. And so it is. But the emotions that the baby experiences are not always positive. He may be angry with others and upset. And against the backdrop of an abundance of emotions (both positive and negative), overstrain of the nervous system can develop. This makes the baby capricious, nervous, and whiny. In order not to aggravate the load on the nervous system during the period of adaptation in kindergarten, parents need to reduce emotional stress at home as much as possible. The psychological climate in the family should be calm and positive. Additional entertainment (active games, going to the cinema and visiting, watching cartoons) should be minimized or completely eliminated.
Lack of self-care skills. Going to the toilet, washing hands, undressing and dressing, lacing shoes and tying a scarf - the baby will have to do all this on his own. And if something doesn’t work out for him, he can worry and cry. At home, it is important to teach your baby to be independent. Encourage any manifestations of it. Teach him to do what he doesn’t know how to do yet, and be sure to praise him for success.
Psychological unpreparedness. Children who experience a lack of emotional communication with their mother adapt more difficultly and worse to new conditions. Pay as much attention to the baby as possible, ask how his day was. Ask specific questions so that your child sees your interest in his life in kindergarten

Negative reactions of children: main stages of adaptation

It is important to understand all the critical points that make it difficult to adapt to kindergarten.

Let us highlight the main ones:

Early rise . For children whose daily routine was rarely regulated before, waking up at 7:30 (or even earlier) can become seriously stressful. To mitigate this negative factor for adaptation, a couple of weeks before visits to kindergarten, start waking up your baby earlier, accustoming him to the new routine. In kindergarten, also wake him up a little earlier than necessary, so that he can collect his thoughts for 10-15 minutes, lounging in bed, gradually moving from sleep to full awakening.
Daytime sleep . To make it easier for a preschooler to adapt to kindergarten, do not ignore this aspect. Is your child used to falling asleep with a soft toy? Let him take her to the garden first. You can also buy fun pajamas for sleeping in the garden that your son or daughter will love.
Lunch without the company of mom or dad . Feeding children causes many adaptation problems. Some refuse food that differs in taste from homemade, others simply do not want to have dinner without their mother.
Getting used to the regime . Do you want the adaptation to be smoother? Find out in advance the schedule of the selected kindergarten. In a month or two, begin introducing the regime at home. Do this not abruptly, but gradually. In preschool age, it is recommended that a child sleep about 2-3 hours during the day and 10 hours at night. For comfortable adaptation to kindergarten, bedtime should begin as early as 21:00.
Full-day stay in kindergarten . It is recommended to attend kindergarten before bedtime for the first week. In the second week you can stay until afternoon tea. It is advisable to stay full-time after a month of visits. Of course, these norms are quite individual. If adaptation is severe, pick up your child earlier. For any degree of adaptation, it is not recommended to pick up the baby last - children have a hard time experiencing this either consciously or subconsciously. Try not to allow the child to be left alone after all the children have been picked up by their parents.
Contacts with unfamiliar children . Often in modern families there is only one child, and he rarely has the opportunity to establish relationships with peers. Usually, intersections with them occur only in the clinic, on the playground or at a party. Result: the child is not accustomed to contact with other children. Observe how he interacts with others. An extroverted child quickly makes contact and actively communicates with others - in this case, adaptation will be easier. A young introvert is usually shy and very obedient, so he will likely have difficulty communicating with more aggressive or active peers.
Contact with the teacher . Undoubtedly, the teacher is an important figure in the process of getting used to kindergarten. Experience and communication skills allow him to correctly assess the psychological state of a preschooler and prevent various problems. If you have the opportunity to meet the teacher in advance, you will probably immediately determine how comfortable your son or daughter will be with such a person. Tell him about the child’s individual characteristics, his preferences, and concerns. Condemn all stages of adaptation.

How do young children adapt to the conditions of a preschool educational institution?

During the period of getting used to kindergarten, children often demonstrate such unusual behavior that it frightens their parents. However, these features are typical for every new student and are caused by mental stress, which gradually disappears.

Features of children’s adaptation to preschool conditions include the following manifestations:

Emotions. The baby clearly demonstrates that he does not like the new environment - he whines, often cries, often gets angry or becomes inhibited. These reactions are based on the fear of being left alone, the fear that his parents have abandoned him.
Interaction with other children and teachers. Usually, in the first days of kindergarten, the child does not make contact well. This is largely due to the fact that children 2-3 years old do not yet know how to engage in joint games; Basically, they play next to each other, but each in their own game. Successful adaptation is evidenced by willing responses to the teacher’s requests and the desire to be close to peers.
Changing skills. Adaptation of preschool children to preschool educational institutions often causes a “rollback” - the child temporarily forgets how to eat with a spoon, how to sit on the potty correctly, etc. Successful adaptation helps him quickly restore what he has forgotten.
Changes in speech. During adaptation, some children stop using previously learned words and their vocabulary becomes scarcer. Its gradual recovery speaks in favor of normal adaptation to preschool education.
Sleep, especially during the day, is perhaps the most striking manifestation of anxiety during adaptation. Children sleep poorly, often cry and jump up. During the day it becomes impossible to put them down; at night they are restless. Once adaptation is complete, sleep returns to normal.
Appetite. A decrease in appetite is usually caused by unusual food that the baby is forced to eat in kindergarten. Restoration of appetite is a sign of a child’s addiction, even if at first he does not eat the entire portion.

How parents can help their child during the adaptation period

Parental help can be called fundamental in adaptation.

General recommendations:

Make sure your child acquires simple skills (the ability to use a spoon, ask to go potty, get dressed, communicate with others, use a handkerchief, express requests in words or gestures).
Don't discuss your experiences in front of your child.
Dress your baby according to the season. Shoes and clothing should not create difficulties for him. Choose shoes not with laces, but with Velcro, and clothes with snaps, not buttons.
Study the kindergarten routine in advance. Follow it every day (on weekends too).
Too frequent visits to public organizations (performances, clubs) in combination with many intellectual activities at home can overload the baby’s nervous system.
Often discuss with your preschooler how useful kindergarten is, and how important it is for him to go there (put dolls to bed, water flowers, play with soft toys).
Regularly check the contents of your baby’s pockets to make sure there are no piercing, small or sharp objects in them.
When meeting with the teacher, tell him about the baby’s mood and health. Be interested in how he behaves in kindergarten.
Do not give your child too expensive toys, and if this happens and the baby does not keep track of the thing, do not be too strict with him.
Plan your own schedule so that in the first month of being in kindergarten, the preschooler is not there until the end of the day, and can quickly find himself in familiar home conditions.
Teach your son or daughter to communicate with other people. Go on a visit or visit crowded playgrounds more often.
Only healthy children are allowed to attend kindergarten. Remember about the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections.

If you have come to the conclusion that your child feels the need for contact with familiar adults and is not afraid of strangers, then this is a good sign. If he strives for independence, willingly engages in games, has some self-service skills, is friendly and open, then he is probably ready for kindergarten.

The main mistakes of parents

Many parents make mistakes that interfere with their adaptation to kindergarten. So, let's look at the most common misconceptions:

“The sooner you send your child to a nursery (a year or two), the sooner he adapts

If possible, it is better to abandon the nursery unless there is an urgent need for it. For children under three years of age (some longer), it is important to feel connected to their family and preferably spend most of the day in their home. During this period, his emotional connection with his mother and father is especially strong; it builds self-confidence in the child and provides a sense of security. Also, many physiological and psychological needs can only be “closed” by a mother or father. It has been noticed that children who were at an early age not in a nursery, but with their mother, are more emotionally stable.

Experts involved in preschool development have come to the conclusion that in recent years, preschoolers have often experienced developmental difficulties, so at an early age it is better to be under the supervision and care of their mother. This does not exclude joint attendance at play sessions for early development, which will be the first step towards socialization.

“A three-year-old child can stay in kindergarten all day.”

Kindergartens mainly accept children from the age of three. However, not every 3-year-old preschooler has such readiness, especially when it comes to staying full-time. Some people manage to adapt at three years old, others at four, and still others at five cannot easily tolerate separation from mom or dad. An adapted child goes to kindergarten with desire and says goodbye to his mother without crying or suffering.

Girls manage to get used to new people and routines faster, and this is easier for them at 3-4 years old than for boys, who adapt much more slowly. Boys are more emotionally attached to their parents and have a harder time being separated, even for a few hours. Focus on the baby’s condition and analyze it.

“You need to go to kindergarten in the fall”

More often, children are brought to kindergarten in September, but a more favorable time for adaptation is the end of spring and summer. During this period, the cognitive cycle usually ends, children walk more and do creative work. Daylight hours are becoming longer, brighter and warmer. Waking up in the morning is easier.

Autumn can hardly be called a good time for adaptation. At first, it is important for the baby to observe the slowness of the processes in order to be able to look around and get used to it. It is easier to do this in the summer, when there are fewer children in the kindergarten, and teachers have finished with the main educational programs and devote more time to role-playing games.

Let us note other difficulties that appear in the spring:

The baby gets tired faster and finds it more difficult to concentrate.
There is a decrease in emotional background due to lack of sunlight, gloomy weather, and early sunset.

“In a week you can get used to kindergarten”

For some children this is possible, but not for all. During the first month, it is advisable not to leave the baby all day. One to two weeks is an adjustment period for an emotionally stable child of 5-6 years old or for someone who has already attended kindergarten. Girls manage to get used to it faster, boys usually need at least a month. As already mentioned, for the first week it is advisable for the baby to spend time in the garden before lunch, then until afternoon tea, and only after a month try a full stay.

It happens that the child immediately stays for a full day, without expressing any special signs of anxiety or discomfort, but after 1-2 months mental overstrain begins to appear (obsessive movements, tics, enuresis, loss of appetite, viral diseases). The described factors indicate a high workload that was beyond the strength of a preschooler.

At what age should a child be sent to kindergarten?

There is an opinion that the sooner you send your baby to kindergarten, the easier it will be for him to get used to it. But this opinion is wrong.

“Enrolling in kindergarten is a serious stress for a child,” comments child psychologist, candidate of psychological sciences Olga Arkhipova. — Especially for children aged one or two years. At this age, there is a strong emotional connection between the child and mother. At the same time, there is no need to communicate with other children yet.”

According to the expert, the most unfavorable time to get acquainted with a kindergarten is one year. At this time, the child’s adaptation to the conditions of kindergarten is most difficult. The baby is not only very worried about separation from his mother, but is also afraid of strangers.

Children aged one and a half years experience similar emotions. It would be a mistake for parents to expect that a cheerful and carefree baby will calmly enter the children's group and immediately switch to communicating with peers and adults. In practice, everything happens differently. A sharp change in the usual way of life becomes a serious test for the baby’s nervous system.

At two years old, the baby is no longer so afraid of strangers, and his affection for his mother gradually decreases. But this does not mean that a child’s adaptation to a kindergarten or nursery group will be without problems. Not all children at two years old are mentally and physically ready to go to a nursery, which means that the process of getting used to new conditions may take a long time.

“The most favorable age for a child to enter kindergarten is three years,” notes Olga Arkhipova.”

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Adaptation of a child to kindergarten: advice from a psychologist

Usually adaptation is accompanied by stress, and parents can help the child cope with it.

So what are the ways to do this?

Try to understand what aspects interfere with comfortable adaptation . The problem lies on the surface: just ask the child directly. It also happens that parents have to face a number of hidden difficulties. If adaptation is delayed, you need to consult a psychologist.
It is important to be aware of what emotions a child may have during the adaptation period in order to neutralize negative ones and enhance positive ones . Among the negative ones, the most clearly expressed are: anger, resentment, fear. Among the positive ones: curiosity, satisfaction with a sense of independence.
In the first weeks, it is advisable to limit the child's stay in the garden to three hours . Increase the interval slowly. Always tell your child when you are coming so that he does not feel abandoned. Do not show anxiety when saying goodbye: it will be transmitted doubly. Be relaxed, joke around.
Let your child take his favorite toys to the garden . With their help, he will feel connected to home. Another trick can help: let him not be taken to the garden by his mother or father, but by another family member to whom he is not so strongly attached. In this case, the first minutes in the group will not be as painful as after parting with your mother.
Experience a new period for him with your baby . Ask about details of the past day. You should be interested in everything: who he played with, what he learned, what he liked and what he was dissatisfied with. It is important for the child to feel your attention and support. He should not have the feeling that he is left to his own devices.
Shortly before bed, talk to your child about plans for tomorrow . Remind him that tomorrow he will go to kindergarten again, cheer him up, give him the task of playing with some kind of kindergarten toy, or give him another “task” that he should complete in the garden.

Conditions for successful adaptation of children to preschool educational institutions

Experts identify conditions under which it is easier for children to adapt. Thus, those children whose parents began to prepare in advance for attending a preschool institution get used to kindergarten more easily. It is easier for physically healthy, independent children to adapt – “independence” here means the ability to at least partially dress, maintain good hygiene, and eat with a spoon.

The regime is very important. If at least a month before entering kindergarten, parents change the regime so that it coincides with the preschool education regime, then it will be easier for the child to get used to it.

Recommendations for parents on how to make separation from their baby easier

Information for parents about adaptation to kindergarten is often located on stands in the locker room and issued in the form of reminders and booklets. It will be good if parents prepare and set up their child for new living conditions long before he appears on the threshold of the group.

Necessary actions

Come up with your own farewell ritual with your baby, which will instill in him confidence that his mother will definitely return. This can be any simple action: the phrase “I love you,” a kiss on the nose, or a firm handshake. Always. When leaving the baby with one of the other adults, perform the same action so that the child remembers it. By saying goodbye in this way, the child will more easily part with his mother in the preschool locker room.
About six months before going to kindergarten, begin to involve other adults in communicating with the child, so that he has experience of parting with his mother and interacting with other adults. You can start with them communicating in the presence of mom, and then start being away for longer and longer periods of time.
Gradually leave the baby alone in the room while the mother is out of sight. Sometimes it’s worth inviting him to play on his own, without the participation of adults - this skill will also be needed in kindergarten.
Try to form a positive self-esteem and ideas about yourself for the baby: tell him how smart, independent, cheerful and sociable he is. At the same time, it is necessary to avoid statements that the child is unsociable, capricious or angry.

Unnecessary actions

Never leave your child when he is distracted. In this situation, he is very scared that his mother has disappeared to God knows where. Next time he will try with all his might not to let his mother leave him even one step.
Do not try to leave the child alone at home, even going to the store located in the neighboring house. Firstly, this will increase the baby’s anxiety level, and secondly, in just a few minutes he can find himself in danger in his own apartment.
There is no need to buy your child something tasty or toys every time after a separation: if he develops an understanding that something material awaits him after the separation, such purchases will have to be made every day when the child goes to kindergarten.

MAGAZINE Preschooler.RF

Three degrees of adaptation to kindergarten.

Almost all parents sooner or later face a situation where their grown-up children are forced to get acquainted with kindergarten. At this moment, adult family members face many questions, for example, how adaptation will take place in kindergarten, at what age should they send their child to a preschool educational institution, and how to speed up adaptation to changed requirements and conditions.

Such doubts and anxieties are absolutely natural, since for several years a preschool institution will become, if not a second home for a child, then an essential part of his life. In addition, the psychological and physical health of children often depends on the success of adaptation.

That is why the question of how to help a child adapt to the kindergarten team should concern parents even before the doors of the preschool educational institution hospitably open to new students. We suggest studying the main problems that may arise for mothers and fathers, as well as the main ways to solve them.

What is adaptation?

In general terms, this process is understood as the individual’s adaptation to a new environment and conditions. Such changes have an impact on the psyche of any person, including children who are forced to adapt to the garden.

You should understand in more detail what adaptation to kindergarten is. First of all, it requires enormous energy expenditure from the child, as a result of which the child’s body is overstrained. In addition, one cannot discount the changed living conditions, namely:

Moms and dads and other relatives are absent nearby;
it is necessary to maintain a clear daily routine;
need to interact with other children;
the amount of time devoted to a particular child decreases (the teacher communicates with 15 - 20 kids at the same time);
the baby is forced to obey the demands of other people's adults.

So, the baby’s life changes radically. In addition, the adaptation process is often fraught with undesirable changes in the child’s body, which are expressed externally in the form of violated behavioral norms and “bad” actions.

The stressful state in which the child is trying to adapt to changed conditions is expressed by the following states:

disturbed sleep - the child wakes up with tears and refuses to fall asleep;
decreased appetite (or its complete absence) – the child does not want to try unfamiliar dishes;
regression of psychological skills - a child who previously spoke, knew how to dress, use cutlery, go to the potty, “loses” such skills;
decreased cognitive interest - children are not interested in new play equipment and peers;
aggression or apathy - active children suddenly reduce their activity, and previously calm children show aggressiveness;
decreased immunity - during the period of adaptation of a small child to kindergarten, resistance to infectious diseases decreases.

Thus, the adaptation process is a complex phenomenon, during which the child’s behavior can change dramatically. As you get used to the kindergarten, such problems disappear or are significantly smoothed out.

Degrees of adaptation

The process of adaptation of a child in kindergarten can proceed in different ways. Some children quickly get used to the changed environment, while others worry their parents for a long time with negative behavioral reactions. It is by the severity and duration of the above problems that the success of the adaptation process is judged.

Psychologists distinguish several degrees of the adaptation process that are characteristic of preschool-aged children.

Easy adaptation

In this case, the baby joins the children's team in 2 - 4 weeks. This type of adaptation is typical for most children and is characterized by the accelerated disappearance of negative behavioral reactions. You can judge that a child easily gets used to kindergarten by the following features:

he comes in without tears or hysterics and remains in the group room;
when speaking, looks teachers in the eye;
able to voice a request for help;
is the first to make contact with peers;
able to occupy himself for a short period of time;
easily adapts to daily routine;
responds adequately to educational approval or disapproval remarks;
tells parents how classes went in the garden.

Moderate addiction

How long does the adaptation period in kindergarten last in this case? At least 1.5 months. At the same time, the child often gets sick and demonstrates pronounced negative reactions, but it is impossible to talk about his maladaptation and inability to join the team.

When observing a child, it can be noted that he:

has difficulty parting with his mother, cries a little after separation;
when distracted, forgets about the separation and joins the game;
communicates with peers and teacher;
adheres to the stated rules and routines;
responds adequately to comments;
rarely becomes the instigator of conflict situations.

Difficult adaptation

Children with a severe type of adaptation process are quite rare, but they can easily be found in a children's group. Some of them show open aggression when visiting kindergarten, while others withdraw into themselves, demonstrating complete detachment from what is happening. The duration of addiction can range from 2 months to several years. In especially severe cases, they talk about complete maladaptation and the impossibility of attending a preschool institution.

The main characteristics of a child with a severe degree of adaptation:

reluctance to communicate with peers and adults;
tears, hysterics, stupor when parting with parents for a long time;
refusal to enter the playing area from the locker room;
reluctance to play, eat, or go to bed;
aggressiveness or isolation;
inadequate response to the teacher’s address to him (tears or fear).

It should be understood that absolute inability to fit into kindergarten is an extremely rare phenomenon, so it is necessary to contact specialists (psychologist, neurologist, pediatrician) and jointly develop an action plan. In some cases, doctors may advise you to postpone visiting a preschool educational institution.

What influences a child’s adaptation?

So, the period of adaptation of children in kindergarten always proceeds differently. But what influences its success? Experts include age characteristics, child health, degree of socialization, level of cognitive development, etc. among the most important factors.

Child's age

Often, parents, trying to get to work early, send their child to kindergarten at two years old, or even earlier. However, most often such a step does not bring much benefit, since a young child is not yet able to interact with peers.

Of course, every child is a bright individual, however, according to many psychologists, it is possible to identify an optimal age period that is most suitable for getting used to kindergarten - and this is 3 years.

It's all about the so-called crisis period of three years. As soon as the baby passes this stage, his level of independence increases, his psychological dependence on his mother decreases, therefore, it is much easier for him to part with her for a few hours.

Why shouldn’t you rush to send your child to preschool? At the age of 1 - 3 years, the formation of child-parent relationships and attachment to the mother occurs. That is why prolonged separation from the latter causes a nervous breakdown in the baby and violates basic trust in the world.

In addition, one cannot help but note the greater independence of three-year-olds: they, as a rule, have potty etiquette, know how to drink from a cup, and some children are already trying to dress themselves. Such skills make it much easier to get used to the garden.

Health status

Children with serious chronic diseases (asthma, diabetes, etc.) quite often experience difficulty adjusting due to the characteristics of the body and the increased psychological connection with their parents.

The same applies to children who are often sick for a long time. Such babies require special conditions, reduced loads and supervision of medical personnel. That’s why experts recommend sending them to kindergarten later, especially since the pain will disrupt their preschool attendance schedule.

The main problems of adaptation of sick children in a nursery group:

an even greater decrease in immunity;
increased susceptibility to infections;
increased emotional lability (periods of tearfulness, exhaustion);
the occurrence of unusual aggressiveness, increased activity or, conversely, slowness.

Before entering a preschool institution, children are required to undergo a medical examination. There is no need to be afraid of this; on the contrary, parents will have the opportunity to once again consult with doctors about how to survive the adaptation with minimal losses.

Degree of psychological development

Another point that can prevent successful adaptation to preschool education is a deviation from the average indicators of cognitive development. Moreover, both delayed mental development and giftedness can lead to maladjustment.

In case of delayed mental development, special correctional programs are used to help fill gaps in knowledge and increase the cognitive activity of children. Under favorable conditions, such children catch up with their peers by school age.

A gifted child, surprisingly, also falls into the risk group, since his cognitive abilities are higher than those of his peers, and he may also experience difficulties with socialization and communication with classmates.

Level of socialization

A child’s adaptation to kindergarten involves increased contacts with peers and with unfamiliar adults. At the same time, there is a certain pattern - those kids whose social circle was not limited to their parents and grandmothers are more likely to get used to the new society.

Those children who rarely interacted with other children, on the contrary, find it difficult to adapt to changed conditions. Poor communication skills and the inability to resolve conflict situations cause an increase in anxiety and lead to reluctance to attend kindergarten.

Of course, this factor largely depends on the teachers. If the teacher gets along well with the child, adaptation will noticeably speed up. That is why, if possible, you should enroll in a group with the teacher whose reviews are most often positive.

Stages of adaptation of a small child to kindergarten

Adaptation of children is a heterogeneous process, so experts identify several periods characterized by the severity of negative reactions. Of course, such a division is rather arbitrary, but it helps to understand how successful the addiction will be.

The first stage is also acute. Its main feature is maximum mobilization of the child’s body. The child is constantly excited and tense; it is not surprising that parents and teachers note tearfulness, nervousness, capriciousness and even hysteria.

In addition to psychological changes, physiological changes can also be detected. In some cases, there is an increase or decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. Increased susceptibility to infections.

The second phase is called moderately acute, since the severity of negative reactions decreases, and the child adapts to the changed conditions. There is a decrease in the baby’s excitability and nervousness, improved appetite, sleep, and normalization of the psycho-emotional sphere.

However, it is not yet possible to talk about complete stabilization of the condition. Throughout this period, negative emotions may return, and undesirable reactions may appear in the form of hysterics, tearfulness, or reluctance to part with parents.

The third stage – compensated – stabilizes the child’s condition. In the final adaptation period, complete restoration of psychophysiological reactions occurs, and the child successfully joins the team. Moreover, he can acquire new skills - for example, using a potty or dressing himself.

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What determines the degree of adaptation?

Age . If a child knows how to go to the potty on his own, use a spoon, and fall asleep without the help of an adult, it will be easier for him to get used to garden conditions. As a rule, these skills are consolidated in children by the age of 2-3 years. Also at this age, children begin to show interest in their peers, although the main source of communication is still the teacher. For a 4-5 year old child to successfully adapt, the ability to negotiate and cooperate with peers is necessary.
Health status . Since adaptation takes a lot of energy from children, the health of children with serious chronic diseases may worsen during this difficult period. Frequently ill children may also have difficulty adapting, so they require special attention and care.
Socialization . Getting used to the garden is easier for children with sufficient experience interacting with both children and adults. Children who do not have developed communication skills experience severe anxiety when they are in an unfamiliar group. Therefore, it is very important not to limit the child’s social circle and help him learn to establish contact with people.

In many ways, the child’s adaptation depends on the teacher, who must be able to interest the child and gain his trust.

What not to do when separating from a child

There is a list of recommendations that every adult should follow when taking a child to a preschool institution:

A phrase like: “If you don’t listen to me, I’ll take you to kindergarten!” - it's taboo! After all, what is used to scare cannot evoke positive emotions.
If the baby cries when parting, do not scold him or get angry. The best helper here is patience, attention, kind words and actions (hug, kiss, don’t forget to say that you will definitely take it).
Don't promise the impossible. For example, today you go, and tomorrow you stay at home. And, if you promised, be sure to keep your word.
Try not to be the last one to pick up your baby. Especially in the first months of his stay in the garden.
Instead of the listed “don’ts,” praise more often, listen carefully and with interest to his stories about life in the team, about his achievements and failures.