Firsts​ ​or​ ​Lasts?

Around​ ​this​ ​time​ ​of​ ​year​ ​most​ ​of​ ​us​ ​are​ ​left​ ​scratching​ ​our​ ​heads​ ​and​ ​wondering exactly​ ​where​ ​the​ ​last​ ​few​ ​months​ ​have​ ​flown​ ​off​ ​to.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​pre-schooler​ ​in your​ ​life,​ ​then​ ​I’m​ ​sure​ ​you​ ​are​ ​experiencing​ ​twice​ ​the​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​a​ ​year​ ​that​ ​has​ ​just flown​ ​by.​ ​I’m​ ​sure​ ​it’s​ ​been​ ​a​ ​big​ ​year​ ​for​ ​you​ ​and​ ​your​ ​little​ ​one​ ​as​ ​you’ve​ ​seen​ ​him or​ ​her​ ​undergo​ ​a​ ​metamorphosis​ ​from​ ​adorable,​ not-long-out-of-toddlerhood innocence​ ​to​ ​the​ ​more​ ​worldy-wise​ ​little​ ​person​ ​who​ ​is​ ​ready​ ​to​ ​embark​ ​on​ ​their school​ ​career.​ ​There​ ​has​ ​been​ ​an​ ​explosion​ ​in​ ​language​ ​and​ ​you​ ​are​ ​probably finding​ ​yourself​ ​catching​ ​your​ ​breath​ ​as​ ​you​ ​are​ ​asked​ ​the​ ​tricky​ ​questions​ ​of​ ​life​ ​and are​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​explain​ ​exactly​ ​why​ ​things​ ​are​ ​the​ ​way​ ​they​ ​are.​ ​Yes,​ ​it’s​ ​been​ ​a​ ​huge year​ ​of​ ​change.

If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​a​ ​little​ ​like​ ​me,​ ​you​ ​may​ ​grieve​ ​the​ ​swift​ ​passage​ ​of​ ​childhood.​ ​As​ ​I​ ​was mourning​ ​yet​ ​another​ ​‘last’​ ​in​ ​her​ ​life,​ ​my​ ​daughter​ ​(who​ ​is​ ​now​ ​almost​ ​tipping​ ​the scales​ ​of​ ​“teenagerhood”)​ ​pulled​ ​me​ ​up​ ​with​ ​this​ ​comment,​ ​“stop​ ​being​ ​sad​ ​and miserable​ ​about​ ​the​ ​last​ ​time​ ​I​ ​do​ ​things​ ​and​ ​be​ ​excited​ ​about​ ​all​ ​the​ ​first​ ​things​ ​I​ ​get to​ ​do!”​ ​It​ ​was​ ​a​ ​timely​ ​reminder​ ​that​ ​there​ ​is​ ​always​ ​something​ ​new​ ​to​ ​look​ ​forward​ ​to in​ ​our​ ​child’s​ ​life.

If​ ​your​ ​little​ ​person​ ​is​ ​heading​ ​off​ ​to​ ​school,​ ​take​ ​time​ ​to​ ​celebrate​ ​their​ ​achievements this​ ​year.​ ​Let​ ​them​ ​know​ ​how​ ​excited​ ​you​ ​are​ ​about​ ​the​ ​new​ ​adventure​ ​that​ ​lies ahead​ ​for​ ​them.​ ​Help​ ​them​ ​understand​ ​that​ ​you​ ​will​ ​always​ ​be​ ​their​ ​cheerleader​ ​and number​ ​one​ ​fan,​ ​no​ ​matter​ ​how​ ​old​ ​they​ ​get.

You​ ​may​ ​have​ ​some​ ​concerns​ ​about​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​readiness​ ​for​ ​school.​ ​Take​ ​a moment​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​look​ ​at​ ​our​ ​checklist​ ​for​ ​5​ ​year​ ​old​ ​school​ ​starters​ ​and​ ​read​ ​our blog​ ​​Launching​ ​a​ ​School​ ​Career​.​ ​Newcastle​ ​Speech​ ​Pathology​ ​is​ ​here​ ​to​ ​help​ ​you and​ ​your​ ​child​ ​on​ ​their​ ​social​ ​and​ ​academic​ ​journey.​ ​Contact​ ​our​ ​office​ ​if​ ​you​ ​would like​ ​to​ ​discuss​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​progress.​ ​Look​ ​out​ ​for​ ​our​ ​monthly​ ​free​ ​“Coffee​ ​Consults” that​ ​we​ ​offer​ ​in​ ​our​ ​Hamilton​ ​clinic.​ ​Stay​ ​in​ ​touch​ ​with​ ​all​ ​our​ ​events​ ​on​ ​Facebook​ ​and Instagram.

Written by Alison Speech Pathologist Newcastle Speech Pathology