Written by:
12/02/2014 10:43 

First and foremost, children need to be well prepared for the new social environment of the school. Make sure that your kid knows how to sit still and listen during class, or how to dress and undress for Physical Education class. Once in possession of those skills, you won't have to worry about the practicalities of the school day. A different, but equally helpful skill is to teach your children to write their own name, which not only helps the teacher, but also creates a sense of ownership and responsibility. Remember that you can effectively assist your child by choosing the right things to wear, like shoes with Velcro clasps instead of laces, and the right things to take, such as properly labeled and laminated books and notebooks or lunchboxes that children can easily use on their own.

Before your child sets off for his or hers journey to education, you must take extra care to ensure that your kid knows all the necessities of the school life. Children might find the idea of a big school exciting, but, at the same time, the concept might also be terrifying. You can work out their anxiousness by reading them books that feature the theme of going to school; a subject that you can later talk about and answer all the potential questions and fears your child might have before entering the school. When leaving your children at school, you should always inform them whether you'll come to collect them or someone else – don't forget that in the latter case the teacher should know this as well!

An important thing to do during the first days of school is proper communication. Observe your child's behavior when getting ready for going to school – do you see nerves or excitement?- and try to ask the right questions by using a simple language, since your kid might not know the meaning of the word 'bully' yet. Questions like this should do the trick: “How was your day?”, “Who did you play with today?”, “Are there any naughty children in your class?”, or “Who are your best friends at school?”. Pay attention to the answers and, if your child admits that they feel lonely, have been bullied by other children or something else that worries you, go ahead and talk to the teachers who have a firm grasp on the school life and thus can confirm any suspicions you might have.

Last but not least, be aware of the fact that the first day of school might be a new experience for you and your child, but it certainly isn't for the teachers, who are very well accustomed to all the problems and needs of children who have just started their schooling career. Give the teachers at least two different contacts through which they can reach you in case of an emergency. You can make their job easier by passing all necessary information about your child – crucial in the case of strong allergies or if your kid has an inhaler. Following all the steps presented above and complimenting them by your parental instinct is what will definitely ensure a successful start of education.