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How To Ease The First-Day-Of-School Jitters
We’ve all been
there at one time in our lives. New school, new faces,
and a whole new set of anxieties begin to take hold.
Whether it’s the first day of kindergarten or the
pressures of trying to fit in at an entirely new school
after moving, young children especially feel some uneasiness
when heading to school for the first time. Here are
six ways to help you make the transition a smooth one
– for both you and your child.
1. Turn the apprehension of starting
school into a fun adventure and discovery. A few weeks
before school starts, take your child to the school
and walk with them through the building. Find your child’s
classroom, the lunchroom and the bathrooms. Giving them
a tour of the school helps create familiarity with the
building and gives your child a sense of independence.
2. If your child will be riding the
bus, drive the route with him or her a few times to
help them become familiar with the area. If they’ll
be walking to and from school, create a route to and
from the school and walk it together. This is the best
time to go over basic safety rules as well, such as
what to do if approached by a stranger, or if your child
accidentally misses the bus.
3. Give your child something to look
forward to whether they’re starting school for
the first time, or moving up a grade. A small reward
or treat of some kind for surviving the first-day jitters
can help your child adjust more smoothly and calmly
to their new surroundings.
4. Now that they’re starting a
new school or new grade, what can your child look forward
to? Perhaps this is a good time to start an allowance
program or try out for a school sports team. With every
year they grow, your child will develop an association
that starting a new year of school means increased responsibilities
and increased rewards.
5. No matter how old they are, all children
want to be trendy during those first few days. For each
child you have, plan a special school shopping day just
for them. You may have to splurge on a few “must
have” clothes or supplies, but keep it reasonable.
Now is a good time to go through your child’s closet
as well and take stock of their clothes – what
fits, what doesn’t? What can be donated, what can
be kept? Have your child try on the clothes he or she
wants to keep, and look for ways to pair something old
with something new – a great way to stay within
your shopping budget, especially if you’ll be outfitting
more than one child.
6. Last but not least, help your child
get off to the best possible start on that first day
by getting them to sleep in plenty of time for the next
morning, and preparing a light but nutritious breakfast.
Warm muffins, a hearty bowl of oatmeal or cinnamon rolls
make that first day a real treat – and help curb
the inevitable hunger pangs that can keep your child
from concentrating.
If you’ve followed all the tips
above, and the bus has rolled by on the first day, take
time for yourself to sit back and relax. It won’t
be long until caps and gowns will replace finger paints!
Good luck!
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