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A child in 1st grade: how to help him adapt?
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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A child in the first grade can start to get sick quickly. This means that he is adapting to unfamiliar conditions: increased workload, a new group of children, teachers, a new daily routine. Therefore, you need to treat a first-grader very carefully, but firmly - after all, you need to help him enter a new rhythm of life for him.
Attention! In order for the child to adapt better to school, it is necessary to accustom him to the new daily routine 2 months before school – in the summer.
Health of a first-grader
A first-grader (6-7 years old) may have a decreased appetite and mood during the first days of school, and may tire quickly. His nervous and immune systems are under a lot of strain. "Home" children tolerate new conditions worse than those who attended kindergarten. The child may sleep poorly, have difficulty falling asleep and waking up.
It is necessary to pay attention to all changes in the health of a first-grader and always find time to consult a doctor. A psychologist can be of great help to a child - the expression "all illnesses come from nerves" is especially true for a small child. It is necessary to give the child a complex of vitamins and minerals once every six months as recommended by a pediatrician - this will help the baby to strengthen his health and resist colds.
Shoes and clothes for first graders
A first-grader's clothing should consist of approximately 3-4 layers in the cold season. This is underwear, a dress or shirt with trousers, a sweater and a jacket or coat. Clothing consisting of several layers keeps the child warmer and does not restrict his movements if it is chosen according to size.
As for shoes, they should be light and durable. It is best to buy orthopedic shoes for a child, as they protect the foot from damage and form it correctly. When you choose shoes for everyday use for a child, they should be as comfortable as possible. The heel of such shoes for a first-grader should be a quarter of the sole, and the heel is allowed to be no more than 2 cm. Such shoes protect the child from flat feet and allow free movement. Such shoes have the lowest trauma.
If you buy shoes for your child for the cold rainy season. They should protect well from moisture. But in this case, make sure that the inside of the shoes absorbs fumes and moisture from the child's foot well. For this, the shoes should have insoles made of felt, cloth or special orthopedic materials.
Television in the life of a first-grader
On the one hand, it is a good source of information. There are a lot of educational programs for children, from which he can get information that cannot be learned from other sources. On the other hand, watching TV for a long time can harm the baby's nervous system.
For a child of 6-7 years old, watching TV can take no more than 30-40 minutes. Computer activities - from 15 to 30 minutes, no more. The distance to the screen should be no less than 2 meters, and to the monitor - no less than 40 cm (at arm's length)
A daily routine that takes into account all aspects of the child’s time spent should be hung above his or her workplace.
First-grader's workplace
The musculoskeletal system of a child of 6-7 years old has not yet formed, so an incorrect posture can damage it. As well as damage the child's vision if the book and notebook are at the wrong distance from the eyes. Therefore, the child should have a desk for studying, not a dining table, and a properly adjusted chair.
It is necessary to teach a child at 6-7 years to sit up straight, not to slouch, the chair should be pushed under the table at a distance of 3 to 5 cm. The distance from the table to the eyes can be checked like this. You need to bend your arm at the elbow and put it on the table. The fingertips of the hand should touch the temple. The child should sit at such a distance from the table that his chest is from its edge by a closed fist. In this case, the child's shoulder blades touch the back of the chair.
First grader's work supplies
If a first-grader carries a school bag, one shoulder will be higher, the other lower, and the posture will be formed incorrectly. But a school bag distributes the load correctly. Therefore, you need to buy a good, high-quality, durable school bag for your first-grader. The straps of the school bag should also be strong and wide - it is good if they reach up to 4 cm in width. This way, you will free up his hands - in one of them you can carry a light bag with a tracksuit for training or physical education.
Daily routine of a first grader
If parents pay a lot of attention to the child's daily routine, it is easier for him to get up and go to bed on time, do homework on time and leave time for rest. When you make a schedule for your first-grader, pay attention to the fact that it allocates enough time for sleep. In kindergarten or at home before school, the child slept during the day. Now he cannot sleep during the day, which means that the child must get enough sleep at night. At least 10-12 hours should be allocated for the first-grader's sleep.
In the morning, when the child wakes up, he may not always be cheerful right away. Therefore, the body needs to be stimulated and strengthened with the help of morning exercises. It is advisable to do them on an open balcony or with an open window so that the child can breathe fresh air. A child of 6-7 years old needs to do exercises for 10-15 minutes. This time can include up to 7 simple but varied exercises.
A first-grader's games after school and during the day should take up at least three hours. You can't allow a child in the first grade to only study lessons - this will have a harmful effect on his immune system and general well-being. Also encourage your child to go for walks, and it is desirable that at this time the child not just walks along the street, but also rollerblades, skates, skis, and rides a bicycle.
A child in the first grade will adapt to a new environment much faster if adults help him, using all their experience and ability to properly manage time.