Back to school tips

January 5, 2012

Starting school is such an exciting time

We asked mums for their best tips on back to school or starting school - here is what they said.

Mums:

My advice, take tissues, even if you don't think you will need them. Barefoot

On the very first day, meet some friends for a "mourning tea". You can laugh, cry and reminisce without showing your probably nervous child how much it is effecting your emotions. Return at days end, refreshed and comforted, ready to listen to excited chatter and news of new friends! ~ky~

My first time school mum tip is this : Firstly don't let them see you cry (and you will) and after you have done the drop off grab a girlfriend (perferably one that has just done the first time drop off too) and go and have a coffee and cake because you will probably need a bit of company and something to take your mind off wondering whether or not your little one is crying or having a great time. me-and-my-girls

Cherish that first year of school... Encourage their excitement and curiousity for learning and socialising... Enjoy taking them to their classrooms and planting kisses on their cheek... Remember counting down the minutes until you get to pick them up... Watch their eyes light up when they see you at the end of the day... Next year, you'll be dropping them off at the gate original.gif magicalsurprise

All of the getting ready stuff just will fall into place. But make sure that when you do the drop off you have a plan for your day. Especially if it is your first to go to school. Meet up with friends, have a special lunch, it will help you to feel less empty. I was horrified that on the first day as I walked out of those gates I just felt lost and I am normally not one to live through my children.
Kids are resilient and normally are used to new things, the whole world is new to them, worry about the Mum I say! frosted

Allow extra time for the first few dropoffs, they may need some extra time with mum/dad. Remember they may be nervous, and may not want lots of pictures so 1 or 2 snaps are ok. Make a pickup spot and be there before the school bell goes -*meh*-

i've found it's best not to say you will miss them, instead work on how fantastic it'll be and how many new friends they'll make.
Lastly, i'm taking a pack or 2 of tissues for in the car after we do drop off.....surely 5 years hasn't gone by already?? giggleandhoot

If you're going to cry...try and hide it from your kids! Otherwise, they will think school is something to be scared of.~Ker~

My tip is to not forget the younger children in the first few weeks, I find they need to be entertained more due to missing their older siblings. I pack my dd who is not at school a lunch box so she doesn't feel left out, and take her to a local park for a special lunch or recess. mum2littlelegs

Find where the class list is displayed, and write down the names of the boys / girls in your child's class. Invaluable for playdates & parties - and for following your child's stories of who they're sitting with, and who they're playing with. *TMUV*

When you:
    * Are late picking them up
    * Forget to send something important
    * Have to say "no" to something that "everyone else" is doing
    * Cry on their first day and on their last day
    * Do something that embarrasses them
Remember that you aren't the first and you won't be the last. *mmmmmm*

Talking/Listening:

Did you have a nice day? Unless you want monosyllabic responses, learn the art of open questioning. Who did you play with? What was your favourite activity? Why did you enjoy it? Open questions can encourage even the most tired and reluctant little kindy into a lovely dinner time conversation. Ole

Make up your own 'tradition' at the end of each day do their 'highs and lows' the children love it. I have done this every afternoon since kindergarten and it helps for the child to talk about what they liked most about the day and what they liked least.**Kaz**

Practical:

Save time and stress on the day and do a trial run with getting ready for school. Take pictures on this day so you can relax and have the time to capture the precious memories. If possible visit the school and take a picture complete with school bag alongside the school sign.
Nothing worse than fighting for the best spot for photos with all the other first time parents! eeyorebaby

early bed, healthy breakfast, hassle-free lunches, child friendly bag/pencils/lunch containers, spare clothing. Label everything. Special treat at the end of week, encourage them to share school news with grandparents etc. Smile and reassure them you will be back at the end of the day! Don't forget SUNCREAM!!!!!! Babyplease!

Don't expect your child to cope with picking them up and then doing shopping. For the first term make sure when you pick them up you can just chill out and relax with them as they will be exhausted even if they have been in daycare five days a week. heracat

Routine, routine, routine...
Kids worry about being picked up on time...make sure your early never the last,
Kids get very tired at school...so dinner, bath, bedtime at the same time each night. jonmic

Create a 'Weekly' timetable for the fridge.
Under each day write when they have: 'sport', 'library', 'art', 'music', 'show and tell', plus any after school activities.
Include the teacher's name, school phone number, uniform shop time, as well as bell times (very helpful when you collect kids for appointments). ZombieMum

Expect lost items, so have extras at home- nothing can unsettle a child more then not having a hat for the day. Small issue to us, big issue to them. If you have to run out and buy more, that day or two spent not playing may make them very insecure. red door

Our school implemented a two luchbox policy.
One lunch box for morning tea and the other for lunch as they were finding that the kids were eating all their food at morning tea and had nothing left for lunch. ~MakkaPakka~

Children new to school often find it difficult to finish their lunch in the time allowed for eating. To keep your child interested/able to eat in time allowed. Cut sandwiches in to 8 pieces instead of 4, cut fruit in to bite sized pieces, making them easier to eat Ethan+Emmas_Mum

Make sure you have their dinner ready early if you can, they will be exhausted in the first month of starting school. Start regular nit checks with a nit comb and conditioner and don't forget to put in their bag a spare change of undies and school clothes for accidents 5ratbags

Label everything . Shoes, socks, jumpers, hats. All these items tend to 'walk' without labels.
If you send youghurt, freeze it the night before. It works as both an ice block, as well as keeping it nice and fresh! twinmumplus1

Preparation:

Prepare your child for the first day at school by talking to her about what is expected, what time lunches and breaks are, how to open and unpack her lunch. Show her where the playground, water fountain, and toilets are. Put a spare change of clothes in her bag in case of accidents. Lil-Mum

Have a routine, and start it a week or so before school goes back. We even pack lunches (means i dont have to mess the kitchen during the day!) and we get back into earlier bedtimes and wake ups. Means we're not all struggling to get into routine when school starts. CountryBumpkin

For working families: Try to prepare lunches on a Sunday evening - make some sandwiches and freeze them, and 'bag up' recess snacks (apples/ dried fruit/ muesli bars) so you can just grab them in the mornings. You'll be amazed at how saving a few minutes can contribute to an easy morning! ~Leapfrog~

I used to make a list and have it ready on the first day of school. The child can tick off the things they have done already. This way it allows the child to be responsible for themselves each morning. Mum or dad can help if they get stuck. morgansacre

I laminated a sheet with big pictures of what they had to do to get ready for the morning. For example Clothing for getting dressed, a brush to brush their hair, Lunch box to pack bag. Having a visual aide made it easy for me to ask if he had done every thing to get ready, and because it was laminated he could tick it off with a crayon and i could rub it off for the next day. It gave him independance also because he didnt have to ask me what to do, he could find out for himself. BlackBetty

Have a couple of friends that are going to school with them, over for play dates for a couple of weeks before school starts - complete with lunch boxes, etc... Have some "mock" school things happening, and then have recess, lunch, etc at the times that the school has it..--binda--

- make a "school calander" - using photos from the school.
- print a photo of the teacher off the website, stick it up in ur childs room so they can get familiar with the name and face.
- read story books eg Gus goes to school. PinkyBlue

Explain to your child that they have to go to school for more than one day! When my brother started Kindergarten, he went well on his first day. My mum went to get him out of bed for his second day of school and he looked horrified. He said "What...I have to go again?". Macca_1966