"Starting School: Preparing Your Child (and Yourself) for a Confident First Day"

Starting School: How to Help Your Young Child (and Yourself) Get Ready for Day One

The first day of school is a monumental milestone, filled with excitement, a little nervousness, and plenty of preparation. With the right strategies, you can help your child transition smoothly and confidently. Here’s how to make sure both you and your child are ready for this big adventure.

1. Get Familiar with the School Routine

• Talk positively about school as a fun place for learning, playing, and making friends.

• Introduce your child to their teacher’s name and use it often to build familiarity.

• Explain the daily schedule, like when they’ll eat, play, learn, and head home, so it feels less intimidating.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

Preparation builds confidence. Spend time helping your child practice these essential skills:

• Wearing their uniform: Practice getting dressed and undressed independently.

• Shoes and socks: Velcro shoes are a great option for little hands, as they’re much easier to manage than laces. If they prefer laces, make sure to practice tying them regularly.

• Using a lunchbox: Show them how to open and close their lunchbox, and discuss what to eat at each break. Fruit, salad, sandwiches, cheese, water, vegetable sticks are some great options to help little brains and bodies learn.

• Opening food containers: Test any packaging they’ll need to manage, like yoghurt pouches, zip bags, or twist lids.

• Packing their bag: Teach them how to organise their belongings and carry their bag to build independence and responsibility.

3. Allow Independence to Flourish

We can either help or hinder our child’s independence and development. By encouraging them to take responsibility for small tasks, we set them up for success. Here’s how:

• Let them choose their lunch from a few healthy options you prepare together.

• Encourage them to carry their own bag and unpack their water bottle or lunchbox each day.

• Allow them to make mistakes and learn from them. If they forget their jumper or pack the wrong lunch item, use it as a teachable moment instead of stepping in too quickly.

Building independence now not only boosts their confidence but also sets the foundation for a lifelong sense of responsibility.

4. Use Books and Visual Tools

Beautiful books can be a great way to help your child understand and navigate the transition to school. One of my favourites is The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. This heartwarming story can be a powerful visual tool to reassure both you and your child as you prepare for school.

Another idea is to send in a photo of your family for your child to keep in their bag or cubby. Having this small, tangible connection can help ease separation anxiety and bring comfort during the school day.

5. Prepare for Independence

• Teach your child where the toilets are and how to ask for help if needed.

• Label everything—hats, uniforms, lunchboxes, drink bottles, shoes—because things will go missing!

• Keep spares of essential items (like hats and uniforms) at home, just in case.

• Pack spare clothes or uniform in their school bags for those rainy days or just in case we get too busy to use the toilet.

6. Stay Informed About School Communication

Knowing how the school communicates ensures you won’t miss important information. Check if they use:

• Emails: Make sure you’re on the mailing list and check your inbox regularly.

• Newsletters: Read school and class newsletters for updates.

• Social media: Follow any school accounts for announcements and reminders.

• Noticeboards: Look for updates at drop-off or pick-up points.

• Apps or portals: Familiarise yourself with any school-specific systems.

• Changes: Do not forget to advise your child’s teacher or school if any changes in family, address etc. These can impact your child at school.

This helps you stay on top of events, due dates, and other important details.

7. Plan for Yourself

The first day of school isn’t just a big step for your child—it’s a big one for you, too. To ease your own transition, consider:

• Scheduling something enjoyable for yourself, like a massage, a coffee date with a friend, or even a quiet morning to relax.

• Remembering that six hours can feel fast, but also slow, especially if you’re alone.

8. Hold Space for Big Emotions

In the first few weeks, as routines are still being established, big feelings and emotions may surface—for both you and your child.

• Be patient and create a quiet, safe space where your child can share how they feel.

• Reassure them that it’s okay to feel nervous, excited, or even a little sad. These feelings are part of adjusting to something new.

The Key to Success: Preparation, Practice, and Positivity

The more prepared your child feels, the more confident they’ll be on their first day of school. By practicing essential skills, encouraging independence, staying informed, and approaching this milestone with positivity, you’ll set your child up for a fantastic start.

And remember, your feelings matter, too. Plan a little something for yourself and give yourself grace as you navigate this new chapter alongside your child.

Have a favourite tip, book, or routine that helped your family when starting school? Share it in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!