The first day of school can bring chills of fear to even the bravest parent. If you are anything like me, you want the first day of school for your children to be perfect. It is likely that I am more nervous about the start of school than my child. These tips will help you avoid first day of school nightmares. Calm your nerves and be well prepared for a successful start of school for your children.
Your child doesn't know where to go on the first day of school. They are lost and can't find the right classroom.
Being lost on the first day of school is a common worry. It can be especially nerve-wracking when your child's classroom is in a new building or new school. Avoid this back to school nightmare by touring the school before the first day of classes. In the case of a new building or new school, take your child around the entire area and make sure to point out their classroom, the bathrooms, and cafeteria. Visiting your child's new classroom prior to the start of school is a great way for children, and parents, to feel more comfortable.
Once your child gets to school they realize they are missing something important.
Being unprepared for any situation can cause anxiety. Make sure your child is prepared for the first day of school by packing their important items the night before. Put all of their books, notebooks, binders, and folders in their backpack. If they bring their lunch, make sure to pack it the night before and have it ready to go in the fridge. Lay out your child's first day of school outfit so they can get dressed easily in the morning. Before you leave for school double check your child's backpack for their lunch and all necessary items. Making sure your child has everything they need before the first day of school will relieve some morning stress.
No one sits next to your child at lunch.
You've done everything you can possibly do as a parent to make sure your child's first day of school is a success. For me, the biggest back to school nightmares are the ones that I have absolutely no control over. I know my son is awesome and anyone who doesn't want to be his friend is batty. That does not necessarily mean that he is assured social success at school. In fact, there have been times that my son has sat alone at lunch time. The first time this happened my stomach dropped. I started to tell my son how sorry I was and offer him support. To my surprise, it was no big deal to him. Granted, he is young and the lunch tables at his school only seat two to four students. What I learned from my son was that, eating lunch by himself was not a traumatic experience. It also did not mean that he was destined to be a loner during the school year.
Avoid passing on your anxieties to your children. Back when I was in school, I could not think of anything worse than eating lunch alone. My son does not worry about that. The last thing I want to do is turn him into as big of a worry wart as his mom!
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