Within a few days hordes of newly uniformed little ones will be passing through classroom doors for the first time. Lots of kids (and of course parents!) are very anxious about this new chapter in their lives. Be prepared for a huge bag of mixed emotions of both excitement and sadness at watching them become more independent. Many parents worry that their child will be the only one who won’t be able to tell an A from a Z …they won’t be. Teachers don’t expect children to know letters or numbers; after all, that’s what school is for. What they’re far more bothered about are practical “self- care” skills.

Here are a few practical tips to prepare for the first day of school, limiting the potential for tears on the big day.

• Encourage independence. Children will be expected to know the basics such as going to the loo and washing hands afterwards. They should also know how to eat with utensils and undo buttons and zips so they can get changed when they do sport.
• Be positive about starting school. Children’s thoughts about school can vary enormously – some can hardly wait while others find it stressful to leave parents for the day. Help your child to look forward to it by talking about what they will be doing and who they will meet in positive terms. Visit the school together and walk past it regularly, making a big deal of how much fun it is going to be.
• Go on a special trip together buying uniforms and essential items for school such as a lunch box, new shoes or stationary. This could be an adventure!
• Develop speaking and listening skills. Encourage family discussions at the dinner table, taking turns to listen and speak. Practise sharing by playing family board games at home.
• Socialising and having friends will make this process easier. Encourage them to talk to other children by looking into their eyes, smiling and asking what their names are and introducing themselves. 99% of all children attending school for the first time worry about not having friends. This is a skill that can be taught.
• Encourage a love of books. Einstein said “If you want your kids to be intelligent read them fairy tales”. If you have time for only one activity each day with your kids, simply read.
• Build numeracy skills by counting everything.
• Teach them to recognise their name. Some children will be able to read and write simple words by the time they start school, others will be new learners. Make sure that your child is able to recognise his/her name as everything is labelled.
• Praise success. If your child had a teary start to the day, praise them for being able to stay a full day at school and tell them it will get easier and easier.

Remember, be realistic. If your child finds change difficult, it is expected to take a few weeks to adjust to school. Look for small signs of progress, such as shorter time to say goodbye, less crying or happier smiles when being picked up. Following our tips on how to survive the first day of school with go a long way to easing the process. Good luck!

Source: www.theschoolrun.com, www.theimaginationtree.com, www.netmums.com, www.parentdisk.co.uk, www.happychild.com.au