Your child's first few days at school - 6 top tips to make it a success!
1. Ditch the junk.
Send your child to school with good food that they will enjoy. Teachers encourage children to eat food they have brought (to ensure attention levels can be maintained), so only pack what food your child will need and enjoy. Get ideas for healthy, happy lunches here.
2. Talk about the day.
Talk to your child after school, but don’t just ask ‘What did you do?’. (The invariable answer is "Nothing"!) Be specific - ask if they sang a song, listened to a story or played a game. Ask them who they played with and what did they play. Listen to their answers. Encourage open communication.
3. Health check.
Keep a close eye on their health, and keep them home if they are feeling poorly. It is very distressing for a child to be sent to school if they aren’t feeling well (plus they may spread what they have to others!). You'd appreciate it if others did the same!
4. Check the schoolbag.
Always check their schoolbag daily for notes from the school. Otherwise you may find a month-old collection of them crumpled at the bottom of the bag!
5. Communicate with teacher.
If you drop and pick up your child from school yourself, you may have the chance to have a quick chat occasionally, but if there is something you need to discuss then it is best to make an appointment so you can sit down together and talk it through. It's difficult for a teacher to give you full attention with 24 others in the background!
If there is something going on at home that is having an effect on your child, then it is best to tell the teacher about it so they can keep an eye out and support the child. The obvious things are bereavement or separation, but keep in mind that a child can be very upset by something you consider minor. Don’t feel that something is too insignificant to mention to the teacher.
6. MOST IMPORTANTLY!
Dropping your child to school for the first time might have you on the brink of tears. Don't worry - this occasion is often more moving for mothers and fathers than it is for the child. When the teacher signals that class is beginning please move out of view - it is easier for your child. Be happy and excited for your child.
Made it this far? Great! Now have a look over this page.