With the kind request for publication
Information event by the district for parents with future preschool children
Under the motto "My child will become a preschooler this summer! What does that mean?" an informational event for parents recently took place in the Large Meeting Room of the Saarlouis District Office. The aim was to prepare mothers and fathers early and practically for their children's transition to school. The event was very well attended, with around 90 parents following the invitation that the district distributed through the kindergartens.
Dr. Claudia Stodden, head of the Child and Youth Health Service (KJGD), and Dr. Sarah Kläs, coordinator of Early Support Services, work as physicians at the health department of the Saarlouis district. Dr. Stodden first introduced the formal process of school entry examinations. When and where do the examinations take place? Is registration required? Which documents are needed? What should be considered for the so-called optional children? Dr. Kläs pointed out the skills children should acquire for so-called school readiness and explained how potential deficits, for example in fine motor skills or language development, can be playfully caught up during the preschool year.
Daniel Recktenwald, a psychologist at the School Psychological Service, addressed the socio-emotional aspects during preschool and the start of school from a school psychological perspective in his lecture. He was supported by Giulia Hesidenz, a psychology student. In his lecture, he urged parents to understand preschool as a process of change and as a field of practice. The oldest children in kindergarten would soon become the youngest in school. Problems related to the enrollment process and the first school years were more often about adjusting to the new situation than about learning content, the psychologist reported from his practical experience. The attitude of the parents, their expectations of the child, experiences from their own school days, and the culture of handling mistakes lived out in the family all had a strong influence on how children find their way in their new role. In his humorous and informative lecture, Recktenwald repeatedly emphasized that frustration tolerance is the key competence for a successful transition to school.
At the end of the event, parents received informational brochures on the topics of preschool and school enrollment. The materials are available for download on the district's homepage at https://www.kreis-saarlouis.de/Gesundheit/KJGD.htm. Contact information for the school psychological service can be found here: https://www.kreis-saarlouis.de/Schulpsychologischer-Dienst.htm. On the pages of the Family Guide, Meike Mittermüller and Janina Balge-Fettes (https://familyguide-saarlouis.de/) from the Mobile Family Center provide information on various topics from pregnancy through adolescence.
The event was characterized by open exchange, practical tips, and a trusting atmosphere. Parents received not only basic information but also individual advice and support from the staff of the health department, the school psychological service, and the Mobile Family Center ("Family Guide"), who had organized the event.
DSC01068klein: On the panel (from left to right) Giulia Hesidenz, Daniel Recktenwald, Dr. Sarah Kläs, and Dr. Claudia Stodden provided parents with comprehensive information about preschool. (Photo: Saarlouis District | Sylvia Schäfer)
