Starting school is a nerve-wracking experience and that’s just for the parents. Here are some tips to help you make a success of that very first day.
Before:
Talk about school. Whether it’s looking back at your schooldays or reading books, chatting to older children or watching TV, take the chance to talk about school in a positive way so they’re familiar with the idea.
Walk or drive to the school. Children will feel better if they know where they’re. Most settling in sessions took place well before the summer holidays so the journey to school may seem unfamiliar territory, especially if it’s not right by a road you take often. If you do pass it regularly then point it out and get them excited about going in their uniform.
Remind your child if they already know children there. Whether it’s in their class or year, or in other years that they may see in the playground, children often feel better if they know they will have a friend with them, or at least a familiar face.
Prepare everything in advance. Minimise stress on that first morning by laying out uniform ahead, knowing the approximate timings of your routine, planning what to put in the lunchbox and packing bags to put beside the door.
During:
Stay calm, don’t cry. Children pick up on your emotions very easily and although it can be tempting to weep like the baby your child no longer seems to be they won’t understand why you’re upset. If they’re worried that going to school is what’s making you cry they won’t want to go and will spend their time wondering how you’re getting on!
Give them a kiss or a hug. And then give them another one or two to put into storage so they can draw on it later if they need to.
Don’t linger. If your child seems happy and settled then say goodbye and get going while the going is good.
Smile and be friendly to other parents. Leading by example means your child is more likely to make friends with the children in their class, and you might find yourself some new friends too.
Remind them where the toilets are. Small children can get nervous about being in unknown places because they don’t know where the toilets can be found and little worries can snowball into bigger ones. By removing this fear at the start you’ll help them feel more confident and at home.
After:
Come with a snack. Small children can be ferociously hungry by 3pm and a hungry child is often a tearful one. Bananas are a great non-messy and nutritious option. Bonus points for giving your child a banana box and some stickers to decorate it. Kids are easily pleased!
Be interested, don’t interrogate. Your child may not be very forthcoming about their first day and that’s okay. It’s a lot to take in and because Reception children are still in the Early Years Foundation Stage they really are expected to ‘just play’ all day.
Have a relaxed evening. School is tiring and the best thing you can do to help them get through the days, and weeks, to come is keep things low key. Go home, have an early tea, a calm bathtime and early bed.