Abstract:

The issue of adaptation to new conditions of living is manifested almost anywhere since childhood. First, we adapt ourselves to preschool, then school, studies and a new job. At every step we learn new people and new tasks that we must confront.

Starting preschool by a child is the first moment of “separation” from parents. When entering preschool, the three-year-old child is often scared, embarrassed and disoriented due to a new situation. It is fully understandable – a child is left in a new place where he or she does not know anybody. The stage of starting preschool is time of extreme emotions in a child’s life. The preschool pupil who displays difficulties in adapting to new environment often cries, is fearful, displays various somatic symptoms (stomach- and headaches, vomiting, wetting the bed). In some cases the children suffer from sleeping disorders.

It may be assumed that the three-year-old associates preschool only with negative situations. However, it is the preschool where the child learns to be self-reliant, enters first interpersonal situations and, what is most important – acquires new knowledge about surrounding world, which will be necessary in his or her further life.

Some parents decide not to send their child to preschool until the time when preschool education becomes compulsory at the age of 6 years. Then, the child must stay with somebody from the family or with a nanny. They do not realize that even though their child is left with the most wonderful granny or beloved auntie, they do not allow the child to develop all skills and competencies of a three-year-old, including such important ones as ability to coexist and cooperate in a group.

The goal of this research is to present the difficult situation of children who begin preschool education. The study was based on the survey directed to parents of children and pedagogical observations. It was conducted twice: at the beginning of school year (September 2017) and after following three months (December 2017) in preschools in Czestochowa, Poland. On the basis of collected data it attempted to show parents’ and teachers’ opinions on the process of child’s adaptation as well as problems and symptoms involved in this process. Moreover, it was also important how children coped with difficult situations, which were connected with their independence and self-reliance in preschool.

Separation from the family and remaining in a new, unknown place cause intense feeling of threat. It is a huge challenge for teachers and parents to minimize the stress experienced by the three-year-old children, so that the process of adjusting to preschool conditions can go smooth, without unnecessary fears and, above all, can be successful – which means a happy and cheerful child.

Keywords:

Preschool education, adaptation, difficult situation, adaptation difficulties, negative emotions, preschool space.