Preparing Your Child For Their First Day Of School

• Children often come from a preschool or day care centre with limited numbers of little children and limited size of area
• When starting school they are mixing with many much bigger children and a much larger area, they can feel lost and overwhelmed.
• Have a few trial lunch days where you pack the child a lunch box at home (if not done at preschool) and ensure they eat correct little lunch first then big lunch, this is particularly important if all food is in one lunch box. And ensure they can unwrap their lunch.
• Label everything – all clothing, bags, lunch box, drink bottle. If the child puts their item down and other children’s items are the same, a child can become distressed thinking the other child has taken their item. Labelling all items will prevent this and assist the teacher to sort out correct belongings.
• School day starts at 7am or 7.30am and finishes at 4pm, with first & last hour at home.
• Remove all conflict from mornings to ensure your child has a happy day.

 

Helping kids start school happily 

• Have a few trial run days such as getting up with an alarm if necessary, getting dressed, washing face and eating breakfast within a set time frame.
• Start a new school routine.
• Children need to be aware of the time frame of preparing for school each morning. Much conflict erupts each morning with parents and children when the children are slow to become ready for school or bus. Set clear expectations and consequences so they understand; and remember children have no concept of time under about 7 years old so telling them you have half an hour to get ready will mean nothing to them.
• Ensure your rule includes no TV of a morning or at least until they are up, dressed, breakfast, teeth brushed and bag packed – ready to walk out the door. If they are ready early, some TV or computer game is permitted but only after they are ready.

  Kids that feel nervous or scared about their first day at school  

• Mum standing at the gate crying will only tell the child that this school is scary and bad. Parents hugging their child emotionally and telling them how much they will miss their child will make the child sad and anxious.
• Drop off and leave after the first day.
• If parents can assure their child they will collect them after school to hear all about what they did, who they played with and what they learned.
• Parents need to build up school to meet new friends, to learn new things & is safe.
• Getting their school uniform will allow the child to feel big. Ensure they are comfortable in their new uniform look, have them choose their lunch box and drink bottle or backpack. This allows them to have ownership of the school experience.
• Take the child to the school and show them around. Many children are scared they do not know where their classroom is or where the toilets are.

  5 Tips to Start School Easier  

1. Have a few trial lunch days where you pack the child a lunch box at home (if not done at preschool) and ensure they eat correct little lunch first then big lunch, this is particularly important if all food is in one lunch box. And ensure they can unwrap their lunch.

 

2. Children need to be aware of the time frame of preparing for school each morning. Much conflict erupts of a morning between parents and children when the children are slow to become ready for school or bus. Set clear expectations and consequences so they understand; and remember children have no concept of time under about 7 years old so telling them you have half an hour to get ready will mean nothing to them.

Ensure your rule includes no TV of a morning or at least until they are up, dressed, breakfast, teeth brushed and bag packed – ready to walk out the door. If they are ready early, some TV or computer game is permitted but only after they are ready.  

3. Separating from the child when they commence school. Mum standing at the gate crying will only tell the child that this school is scary and bad. Parents hugging their child emotionally and telling them how much they will miss their child will make the child sad and anxious. First day, meet the teacher, show your child around, smile and go. Drop off and leave with a smile after the first day.

 

4. Take the child to the school and show them around. Many children are scared they do not know where their classroom is or where the toilets are. Show them the kindy area and toilets.

 

5. Label everything – all clothing, bags, lunch box, drink bottle. If the child puts their item down and other children’s items are the same, a child can become distressed thinking the other child has taken their item or its lost. Labelling all items will prevent this and assist the teacher to sort out correct belongings. Place their first name and first letter of surname at least.