Preparing Yourself and Your Child for the First
Day of School
If your first child is about to start school this year
you may be wondering who has more anxiety about it - you or your child.
The first day of school is significant in so many ways; your child is
growing up, you are not personally planning their days and you know,
even if your child does not, that it is only the beginning of a long
stretch of firsts.
If you or your child are feeling anxious about the coming school year,
what steps can you take to ease the transition and develop a healthy
sense of expectation and challenge instead of fear or loss?
Give Your Child Practice
If you have been the sole caregiver for your child it is quite possible
that your child will have more anxiety about spending the day with
people he or she doesn't know than a child who has been in a public day
care environment before.
During the summer, before the big day, you may wish to enroll your child
in preschool even if it is only one or two days per week and only two
hours at a time. This gives both you and your child the chance to
experience the separation without the overwhelming challenge of full
time school.
If your child is not ready for a typical preschool environment, try
group play activities such as a music class or book reading that
involves following the teacher's instructions and spending time with a
group of children while parents stay close by.
Speak Positively About School
Smother your own fears and remain positive about the school experience.
Even the boldest child may be put off going to school if they sense
their parents’ apprehensions about it.
Talk to mothers of school aged children. You may find your concerns to
be commonplace, but you'll quickly adapt to the routine and may even
find time to enjoy it.
Find out if you can visit the school before the new school year starts.
Some schools have days when children planning to attend the following
year can come to a library reading one day a week as a means of getting
accustomed to the school environment.
Taking your child 'school shopping' can also create enthusiasm. New
school clothes, shoes and even a 'big kid' book bag are all ways you can
foster excitement about going to school.
Get Involved
It may be possible for the school to put you in touch with other parents
who have children starting school at the same time as yours. Meeting
other children before the school year can ease nerves and create a
supportive bond.
If your school doesn't permit that information to be shared you may
request that an invitation be given to parents who would like to meet,
or post a notice on the bulletin board.
Once school has started stay involved with your child's progression.
Discuss the activities of the day, read books brought home from school
and volunteer to help in the classroom or on trips if you have the
ability. All of these steps show your child that you are participating
even though you are not there with them. Soon enough you'll find your
little one getting the hang of it, maybe even before you do!
Surviving The Winter Blues - A
Family Prescription By the middle of winter most of us desperately need a trip south. It's dark,
it's cold, and life looks bleak. Learn the five keys to bringing sunshine back
into your family, including planning family times, putting first things first,
and getting organized!
Garage sales (and car boot sales) are a great way to clear out your clutter
while raising some extra cash for the family. Kacy offers some great tips for
organizing the garage sale process in this article. How To Prepare For A Garage Sale
