How to prepare your child for their first day of school

It is not uncommon for both parents and children to start feeling a little anxious as the new school year looms ahead. However there are numerous ways in which you can help your child prepare for his or her first day of school:

•Communicate
Talk freely and regularly about starting school. Making it a dinner-table conversation and ask your child about her feelings about starting school. Let your child know that it is normal to feel nervous and listen to her without judgement.

•Improve your child’s independence
Get your child used to being responsible his own belongings. Help him to practice packing and carrying his own school bag, putting on his own shoes and recognising his things. They should also get used to the idea of eating and drinking without help, going to the toilet on their own and using tissues to blow their nose.

•Daily routines
Daily routines help children feel secure and understand what they need to do, when to do it and why it’s important. When they start school their routine will change. Let them know how a normal school day will run and help your child prepare for the change by implementing some of the changes beforehand at home. This may include going to bed early, waking up at a certain time to leave time to get ready, having a healthy breakfast, eating lunch and having time for physical activities.

•Familiarise yourselves with the school
It’s a great idea if you can visit the school with your child to see her new classroom and meet her new teacher before school officially starts. They can get used to the large number of children and their movements within the school grounds.
Before their first day, your child should know how to easily find her classroom and where to put her bag and hat and where to meet you when school is finished. It is also nice if your child can meet a classmate before the first day so she will have a friendly face when school starts. Encourage her to ask the teacher for help if they need it.

•Get involved with the school
Be positive about school with your child and take an interest in his schooling. Get involved with the school community by meeting the teacher, talking to other parents, volunteering, reading the school newsletters and attending school events.

•The night before
Lay out clothes, pack book bags and lunches the night before. Have your child go to bed early enough to feel rested and wake them up in time to eat breakfast and get ready. Reassure her that starting school is fun and she’ll make lots of new friends.