Story Time with V & Me - First Day at School

This time of year can feel a little scary for our children.

All we want is for them to make friends, learn and be happy in their school career.

But we don't always know how best to help them.

We view the first day of school as a special occasion and want our children to remember it, so we make a fuss and hype it up, more for our own sake than theirs. We tell them how great the day will be, we tell Granny and Grandpa, we take photographs and mention school frequently on the run up to the first day. The unfortunate thing is that by us making all this fuss and trying to make it special, we put huge pressure on the day and inadvertently cause anxiety and stress in our children.

By saying things like "You are going to make so many friends and have so much fun" you are putting that expectation and pressure on them. This is especially damaging for a more introverted child who might need some time to check out this new environment and warm up to new faces.

The best thing to do is make it like any other day or activity. Mention it in passing when you go and buy their uniform or shoes. And then don't say anything more about school until you do the next thing that's directly related like choosing their school bag or lunchbox.

There is no need to keep it in the forefront of their minds. They know they are going to school. I can guarantee they will not forget! They are nervous and worried enough without us constantly harping on about it. So play it down rather than hype it up.

To help them feel a little more in control of this rather overwhelming day, I have created a Back to School Morning Checklist. Them knowing exactly what needs to be done will make them feel more empowered. It can be used over and over (print a new one daily or laminate it and use a dry erase marker) even long after the first day of school has passed. There are clear pictures (as well as words) so the children can do it independently which is a great confidence boost.

Fill in the simple form and I'll email the FREE Back to School Morning Checklist straight over.