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With the long summer holiday behind us and memories of family fun fading into the distant past, parents are looking forward to a return to normality on Wednesday 13th January when the new school year begins.
For the little people about to enter Grade 1 for the first time, this will be an exciting, overwhelming and memorable day. New school uniforms hang in the cupboard, shiny shoes are placed in eager readiness on the floor and a smart new school suitcase awaits the freshly packed lunch box in the morning.
Parents can help make the transition as smooth and painless as possible with a little preparation. We’ve put together a few tips:
- Have a dress rehearsal with the uniform so that they are comfortable with how it all works - buttons, zips, laces.
- Get an early start on the first day and go to bed early the night before.
- Prepare a good breakfast and pack a healthy lunch. An interesting lunchbox goes a long way to brightening up the first day.
- Drop them off or walk them to school for the first few days. Go hand in hand and don’t linger after you’ve said “Goodbye”.
- Help break the ice by introducing yourself to another parent outside the class. This way, the children have an instant ally at break-time.
- Make sure your child knows their full name, surname and address; home telephone number and parents’ full names and surnames.
- Encourage them to talk about what they have learned when they come back from school. Listen to their stories, but don’t take them too seriously, unless the same complaints still surface a week later.
- Keep your emotions under control! Floods of tears from their parents, may convey the message that school is a really fearful place.
- Don’t go on a stationery spending spree. Basics like a pen, pencil, eraser, ruler, sharpener and some coloured pencils should be enough for the first day.
- Alert the school and the teacher if your child has any medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma or if they have problems with hearing or sight.
- Make your child blend in. Don’t make your child stand out in any way initially.
- Prepare for the book-covering exercise. Buy enough paper, plastic and sticky tape.
Good luck! You are about to embark on an exciting, challenging and enormously fulfilling journey with your child. Enjoy every day of it.
