Mama Life - Collaborative Post
Your child’s first day of school is an inevitable part of life. The time leading up to this monumental occasion will be full of excitement, nervous energy, and uncertainty. However, the most important thing to remember is that this is a period of great change. Once your child walks through those school gates for the first time, your lives will never be the same.
This isn’t a bad thing, far from it. Although, parents will find this transition much easier if they know how to prepare correctly. As such, here are a few things that parents must consider when their child starts school.
Enthusiasm
For the first few years of their life, you are your child’s barometer for how the world works. They will look to you when they are unsure about a situation and base a lot of their reactions on your initial responses. Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised when you notice that your child’s attitude toward their new school is a reflection of your beliefs.
A child is going to find the transition into school life much easier if they believe it to be a positive experience. That is why you can get them off to the best start possible by talking about school in an enthusiastic manner. Spend the time leading up to their first day explaining that school is an opportunity to learn, grow, and make lots of new friends.
It Is Easier With A Friendly Face
If your child has spent several years in nursery, they will have developed some strong attachments already. Unfortunately, not all their nursery friends will be moving on to the same primary school. Your child will find their first day much easier if they have a familiar face to gravitate toward.
You can do your bit by seeing if you can get in touch with some of the other new parents. Try and arrange a play date with at least one child during the summer before their first year and you can provide your child with a friend to help them through this uncertain next phase.
Room Makeover
Your child will be going through a lot of new experiences at school; however, these changes are also going to impact your home life. Getting everyone out of the house on time is going to pose a challenge, but you can make this process easier with the right help.
Your child’s room is quickly going to become a dumping ground full of everything they bring home from school. This can include homework, P.E Kits, and important letters from their teacher. The best way to ensure that you stay on top of all the chaos is by organising their bedroom correctly. You can invest in a desk to provide them with a dedicated workspace, and cabin beds give you an extra bit of storage space to keep the floor clean. You wouldn’t think that your choice of children’s bed would impact your kid’s school life, but one trip to the Children’s Bed Shop will prove you wrong.
Childcare
Working parents will notice a huge change in their lifestyle once their child begins school. Over the last few years, your work week will have been dictated by your childcare arrangements. However, school is now providing you with six hours a day where you no longer have to figure out a childcare plan.
Of course, the standard workday ends at five, so you will still need to have some childcare in place. Fortunately, your child will be spending a lot less time in these locations, which is going to be a lot easier on your wallet. Therefore, you may want to sit down and think about what new childcare solutions you will need and what you are going to do with the extra money you are saving.
Independence Is Key
A standard school day involves more than just learning a syllabus. Your child has to navigate a new world on their own, and there are plenty of extra steps they need to take. They must socialise with both kids and adults, use the toilet, get dressed, and keep tabs on their new equipment. This is a lot for the average adult to cope with, can you imagine what it is like for a child in a new environment for the first time?
Taking the time to teach your child about these new steps will help them tackle these problems as they arise, but it also encourages independence. You never know what life is about to throw at you next, but an independent mind is always better equipped to deal with these situations. Try to instil some independence in your child before they start school, and you will find they face fewer problems overall.
Be Open
Your child’s first day at school is a completely new experience for them, but it is also something that you have not gone through either. School systems change over time, so it is likely that your child’s first few weeks at school will be very different from your own. sadly, this fact can leave you both feeling a little lost.
The important thing to remember is that everything set up in the school system has been done so for the best interest of every child. Try and remain as open as possible to the new procedures in place, even if you find them a bit confusing at first. If you struggle to comprehend the basic structure of the school, the teachers are always there to lend a hand. Always keep a friendly and positive face on, and you find that you adjust to this new period in your lives just as quickly as your child.
Summary
Starting school for the first time can be a daunting experience for the whole family. As such, you will benefit from following the advice above to experience a much smoother transition than you may expect. Remember, starting school is a universal experience, so there is always help out there when you need it and plenty of other parents to chat to, who are just as nervous as you!