Pregnancy
Cures for First-Day Jitters
Brought to you by the
American School Counselor Association
Welcome to the first milestone in your child's school career!
The same scene is played out on the first day of school across the country: Parents walk toward the school building, holding the hand of their four-, five- or six-year-old. The kids have packs on their backs, and maybe butterflies in their stomachs.
For some children, preschool or kindergarten is just a continuation of daycare. Playing and sharing with other kids is nothing new. For others, going to school is their first experience away from home. Prepare your child for this big adventure with ten tips from school counselors and teachers.
1. Review the Route Both adults and kids alike have trouble with change -- and starting school is a huge change! You can help your child overcome any fears of the unknown by rehearsing for "opening day." 2. Visit the Teacher and the Classroom Don't hesitate to call the school and ask if you may bring your child in before school starts. This will give you both a chance to meet the teacher and see the classroom. Point out the cubbies, closet space, the nearest bathroom, and the offices of the school nurse and school secretary. The building will feel different when it is filled with children. Even so, getting to know the classrom -- quietly and at his own pace -- will help to create a sense of security for your child. 3. Supply the Supplies As parents, we want to buy everything that's on sale ahead of time. It usually pays to wait until the afternoon of the first day, when teachers have told students what they will need. Most children up through first or second grade need only a two-pocket portfolio to use as a "take home folder." This portfolio serves as the tool of communication tool between early-childhood educators and home. Don't forget to label everything your child takes to school. If Star Wars is all the rage, you can bet that oodles of kids will be toting the same Star Wars lunch box. Even young children achieve a sense of self-sufficiency when they can go to the cubby or lunch cart and reach for their own things with confidence. 4. Make Clothes Kid-Friendly Young children learn to tie their shoes, operate zippers, and undress quickly enough to prevent accidents during this period of their development. Here are some things to think about before you buy anything new. 5. Adjust Your Clock Summer has its own pace and flow, while school demands something slightly different. It will be easier for your kids to ease into a new school year bedtime, wake-up time, and breakfast time if they start to adjust their schedule before summer comes to a close. 6. Set the Scene Practicing expected routines and behaviors until they become a habit is a lot of what kindergarten and preschool is about. You can help your child be organized at home by creating routines. If she puts her backpack in the same place everyday afterschool, it's easier to find it the next morning. If your kindergartner has homework, and she always does it at the same time and in the same spot, it will become a part of how she does things throughout their school career. 7. Have a Rehearsal Lunch Just as a critical eye is recommended when selecting clothes, be picky about the snack and lunch foods you choose for your child. Some juice packs have straws that challenge the most dextrous adults, and some zip-top fruit cups need a lot of oomph before they zip! Pack a lunch in a lunchbox or bag and sit down at the table with your child. Practice opening things together! Rest assured that teachers and lunch aides will be there to help your child. Remind her to ask for help if she needs it. 8. Sign up for a Library Card Go to the local library before school starts and get your kids their own library cards. All teachers, including early childhood educators, encourage parents to do whatever they can to foster early literacy and a love of reading. Spend fifteen minutes reading each day with your young child. This is a wonderful way to share special time together, and create an association for him between reading and something that feels great -- time with Mom or Dad! 9. Check in with Yourself How are you feeling: Enthusiastic? Apprehensive? No matter how much we might wish it weren't so, our children pick up a great deal from what we say, and from what we do. If you're excited and positive at his beginning school, your enthusiasm will most likely become part of your child's experience. By the same token, your worries and feelings of anxiety will be transferred to him, too. If you express concern about this separation from your child or about the teacher, take care that your child doesn't overhear. Remember that it's sometimes difficult to sort out who isn't letting go of whose hand at the schoolhouse door. If you're sure that it's your child and not you, aim to provide her with a good breakfast, plenty of sleep each night, healthy snack in hand, and a reminder about what she has to look forward to after the school day. Give your child a picture of you to keep in her supply box, write love notes in her snack bags, and reassure her about what time you will be back for her. 10. Celebrate the New Year! This is a great time to begin new rituals and traditions at home. Try these ideas to start the year off with a bang! However you choose to celebrate the new school year, make it an annual event. Memories are one of the most precious things we can give our children. They'll be quick to remind you about your annual back-to-school celebration the first time you forget!
