Getting Your Child Ready For School

Don’t be surprised if your child cries on his/her first day of school.  It is a scary time for him/her.  He/she is being separated from the safety of his/her parents and is expected to interact with strangers.  Some children quickly adapt to going to school, while others hold onto the fear for a while. 

Each morning you are met with a crying, resistant child which makes it hard for you to start your day.  How can you prepare your child for school and limit the amount of outbursts he/she has?  This article will give you some tips.

Get your child ready for school a few weeks before it begins.  Talk about this new experience and prepare him/her for what he/she is going to encounter.  You can also take a tour of the school so that he/she will feel comfortable with the environment.

Get him/her excited about starting school by taking him/her shopping with you for school supplies.  Let your child pick out some items that will be needed, such as a backpack.  There are some games available that simulate the student-teacher experience of a classroom.  These games also teach your child proper classroom etiquette.

Tell your child about all of the wonderful new experiences he/she is going to have at school.  The teacher will read stories to the class; there will be new friends, and new toys to play with, and there will be a nice teacher.  Do not be negative about the experience.

Let your child know that he/she is now a big boy or girl and that all of the big kids go to school to become bigger and smarter.  Organize a play group with some of the kids that will be in your child’s class.  In that ways they can become familiar with each other.

Your child will more than likely cry on the first day.  Though this may be hard to you, leave him/her with the school authorities and get out of sight.  The more your child sees you, the harder it will be for him/her to leave your sight.  Start your child’s school experience off right by putting him/her to sleep at a good time the night before, and start the day off with a healthy breakfast.