* Complete analysis of the 2025 1st grade curriculum
* Official book of the 170,000-member Elementary School Mom Cafe

A message to first-time parents
The most honest and realistic advice!

When a child first starts school, most parents are overwhelmed with anxiety.
It's been over 30 years since I graduated, and the school I'm returning to feels so unfamiliar and full of things I don't know. The flood of information, advice from acquaintances, and provocative advertising from private education companies only serve to further arouse my anxiety.
However, if you properly understand the essence of school, you can move forward without wavering, not only during elementary school but also throughout all stages leading up to middle and high school.

This book is an elementary school admissions guide compiled by the author, who has been active as a mentor in the 'Elementary School Mom' cafe, the largest elementary school community in Korea with 170,000 members, by gathering only the contents that parents with children about to enter elementary school are most curious about and anxious about.
The author, a 21-year veteran teacher and mother of two, offers honest and realistic advice, along with essential information for children entering elementary school, from both parent and teacher perspectives, based on empathy and understanding.
Not only does it provide an analysis of the revised curriculum, which was first introduced in 2024, but it also provides essential information related to admission, such as an introduction to essential living habits that must be taken care of before entering elementary school, school admission notices, preliminary assembly dates, and even methods for learning Korean, reading, and English. Each page offers advice and information on the concerns parents face when sending their children to school for the first time, sometimes firmly and sometimes affectionately.

As the author believes, “First grade is the essence of all education,” this book will be the only support for children taking their first steps into the world and for the parents raising them, allowing them to run around freely within the confines of school.

Tasting a variety of ingredients and feeling their textures is very helpful for sensory development.
Therefore, please encourage your children to have access to a variety of food ingredients at home.
Children who only eat their favorite foods or who are resistant to new ingredients will not be able to properly consume the tasty, balanced diet provided at school.
If your child is sensitive to food, it would be a good idea to have them practice eating a variety of foods, even if only a little, using a plate at home before starting school.
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-- p.18

I once read a story on a mom cafe where a child had a potty accident, but since I was out, I went to school an hour later and found that the child was standing in the bathroom the whole time.
I don't know the exact circumstances, but you don't have to worry too much about this happening.
This is because teachers in charge of first grade elementary school are basically aware that children may vomit or have bowel accidents.
However, it is not easy to handle it with the same care as at home.
This can be especially awkward if the teacher has no parenting experience or is of the opposite gender.
Recently, children's toilet accidents have decreased significantly compared to the past.
However, if your child has more frequent bowel accidents than their peers, it may be a good idea to keep extra underwear, pants, and socks in their locker.

--- p.
28

Language is a tool that reveals a person's thoughts, and it is said that the words used and the sentences uttered best reveal a person's inner self.
The language used in childhood is the nutrient that establishes the child's thinking.
Recently, the decline in children's literacy has been pointed out as a really big problem, and it is said that if you know just three words, such as 'Wow,' 'Awesome,' and 'What should I do,' you will have no problem communicating, so you can see how serious it is.
Because strong literacy skills are built through a variety of reading activities rather than through innate language intelligence, it is crucial to develop good reading habits from a young age.

--- p.37

Children eligible for elementary school in 2025 are those born between January 1 and December 31, 2018, and their school enrollment notices will be issued as of October 1, 2024.
Many people are wondering when their children will enter elementary school according to the unified age law that comes into effect on June 28, 2023.
There is no change as the school entrance date is March 1st after turning 6, just like before.

--- p.58

Most parents focus on how many times their child raised their hand or gave a presentation.
What parents really need to look at is, 'Is my child looking at the teacher?'
What's important is that you turn to the teacher with your whole body, not just your eyes, and participate happily in class.
You need to watch closely to see if they are constantly fiddling with their pencils, shaking their legs, or touching or teasing their neighbors.

--- p.118~119

Typically, the first semester counseling session will involve the teacher listening to what the parents have to say.
Because the time spent with the child is short, the teacher cannot properly understand the child.
Therefore, at this time, it is helpful to tell the teacher in detail about the child's personality, interests, and relationships within the family.
On the other hand, in the second semester, teachers will discuss the child's peer relationships, learning attitudes, and overall lifestyle habits.
That's why people sometimes say things like, "Oh, my child? He's never like that at home."
As you might expect, there are many cases where a child's appearance at home and at school is different.

--- p.121

In kindergartens and daycare centers, children's daily lives are shared through apps and social media.
As a result, parents cannot help but be curious about their child's school life.
There are many things I'm curious about, such as whether you're listening well in class, eating well, getting along well with your friends, and giving presentations well, but I can't ask the teacher about all of them.
To cut to the chase, if there's a problem at school, we'll contact you right away.
If there is no word about our child, then there is no need to worry too much.

--- p.157~158

In school violence, bystanders can be punished the same way as the perpetrators.
Most people give excuses like, “There were other kids besides me,” or “I didn’t want to get involved in this situation,” but it’s difficult to avoid responsibility.
Because it is seen as condoning and sympathizing with school violence.
If you're worried that your child will become another victim by talking to the teacher, you can contact the teacher on their behalf.

--- p.179~180