In pre-school education, the class size is smaller and the ratio of teacher to students is much higher. Children have a lot of freedom when they are pre-schoolers - both at school and at home. By and large, they are still able to play and do what they like. For example, they learn through play at school and when they come home, they are allowed to play, watch TV and take their time with meals.

In Pri 1, the child's daily routine is often altered. Those who take the school bus for the first time may find that they have to wake up earlier, and it is often a long ride if they live far away from the school.

In school, the child has to sit in the same seat for long periods of time, and they only have 20 minutes for recess. And of course, the concept of homework may be new to many.

So parents need to understand that children are going through a probationary period - just as we do when we start a new job - and give some time for the child to adjust.

Q: How can parents prepare their children for formal schooling?

A: Help your child transition into the new environment in the following ways:
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• k to the child about his new school.
• Bring the child to the school to have a look.
• Role play with the child, e.g. queuing up at recess time and paying for food. You can set a timer and have a snack to create 'recess time'. This will give the child an idea of what to expect.

Once school has started, ask questions about his day. Be mindful what you ask and how you ask the question. Don't ask, "Do you have any homework?" but instead, "How was school today?" Ask questions about the environment, the people, his likes and dislikes.

Acknowledge the child's feelings. If he says, "School is scary, there are so many people", don't reply, "There's no need to be scared - what's there to be scared about?" Instead, say something like, "Yes, it can be rather scary ..." Look at the world from the child's point of view instead of always pulling him up to your level.

Q: How long will it take for my child to adjust fully to school?

A: Expect up to three months for children to feel settled and get into the swing of things. Bear in mind that Chinese New Year and the March school holidays may break the momentum.

Q: We've heard of parents who say, "My child often cries at the thought of going to school. I can't understand why, when he seemed to enjoy his pre-school years. What should I do?"

A: If you notice that your child's behaviour has changed, for example, he or she is misbehaving frequently, you need to stop and look at the heart of the child. It's not always a sign that the child is rebelling. It can signal something that is bothering him or a lack that he is feeling. At that age, children don't know how to articulate their feelings but express it by what we see as misbehaviour.

Other signs of distress and anxiety include withdrawn behaviour. Some children don't say anything at all and have difficulties expressing themselves. Help them to open up by letting them doodle and draw. Ask them what the colours mean, what the picture means. Role-playing with toys also helps. Use figurines to represent different characters at school in order to draw out his anxieties.

Pay attention to any negative or anxious thoughts your child may have, such as, "I have no friends", "I'm no good", "I don't know how to go back to the classroom", or even "I don't know where the toilet is". Parents should address these and talk it out with the child. Find out what is really bothering them.

Q: How should parents prepare themselves when their children start formal schooling?

A: Parents must realise that this is the first year of their child's long journey in formal education. They should not focus entirely on grades, and must also look into the social quotient and emotional quotient of their child.

Parents should also work closely with their child's teachers and communicate regularly with them. Ultimately, there are no short cuts to getting your child to do well at school. I would urge parents to be more involved in children's lives when they are at this age and still can be influenced.