Everyone’s first day of school is stressful, but perhaps even more so for parents. It is never easy to prepare for such a big event, but the main thing is not to show that you yourself are stressed or nervous about the big day.
Act relaxed and give off lots of positive vibes well in advance, so your toddler doesn’t feel like it’s something to be scared of. Being organized for the first day of school is crucial to help make the process less stressful.
Take your child shopping with you and let them participate in making decisions for school life. These might be the uniform items you’d like, because there are so many options here, from PE kit to shorts, shoes, socks, t-shirts, sweaters, cardigans, skirts, etc.
Your child will enjoy choosing things to take with them. A school bag is a vital piece of equipment that they will need to use a lot and therefore should be highly prized. Other items such as PE bag, pencil case and stationery can also be chosen together.
What this does is make your child feel more of a part of the whole process and helps them come to terms with the adjustment phase. If you shielded them from this aspect and pretended it wasn’t going to happen, then the shock will only take its toll even more. Therefore, asking them to help buy and choose their own school equipment gives them a sense of control and independence that can ease worries.
One of the easiest ways to get your child ready is to simply sit down and talk with him about the start of school. Talk to him like an older child and explain school as a fun place for learning and activities with other children. Hopefully, your child will have been to day care centers and play centers, so they are already beginning to transition to days away from mom and dad.
Making it sound more adult can sometimes work with certain kids, who are always striving to be more independent. If your child is especially nervous, reward charts can be especially helpful. Using stickers as small rewards for achievement may be enough to get your child started in school.
Ultimately, your child should be excited about the great school, meeting new friends, and taking their learning one step further. Allowing them to attend a trial day before the first day can help them even more. Remember, speak positively about school at all times and let them know how Mommy went to school and she loved it! Your child will be fine once the first day is over and probably won’t be able to wait until the next day.
