Making Your Little One Big School Ready

Anxious about your child’s first day in a ‘big’ school? Do you have butterflies in your stomach as you watch your little one all ready to start another new phase in their lives?

As parents, your child’s first day of school is a huge milestone and can be quite daunting. It is that day when your little ones start a new chapter in their lives and a day when they start to really spread their wings.

However, as this day approaches, with it comes to a whole lot of apprehensions, questions and fears. We understand that this change can be a little stressful. However, while these apprehensions are very normal, it is also important to understand and believe that your little one will be fine. You will soon look back at these days with a smile, wondering how beautifully you managed to transition them to a ‘big school’.

We have put together some tips that will help ease this process for you and your little one:

STEP 1 –Narrow down on the right choice

There aren’t any ideal or perfect schools for your little one. Every child is different and learns in different ways and while some teaching methodology might work for one, it might not work for the other. What is important, therefore, is to ensure that you have the right child-school-parent fit that works for both you and your child. Once you have narrowed down on that and are confident that they will be well looked after and cared for there, half the battle has been won.

STEP 2 –Network and connect

Now that you have chosen the school for your child, you also need to ensure that you build a positive parent-school relationship.

• Research shows that the more parents and teachers share relevant information with each other about their child, the better equipped they will be to make sure your little one turns into a confident and strong young adults, ready to take on the world.
• Provide all information about your little one the day you enroll them. This will ensure that the school knows everything about your child and what makes them happy.
• What also helps, is to connect with parents of children who go to the same school so that you get to know how the school works and also other important information.

STEP 2 – Start preparing your little one

An excellent way to ensure that your child is aware of how different schools will be as compared to the preschool that they are used to is to start talking to them about ‘big’ school.

• Keep the lines of communication open at all times.
• Stories from your school experiences and how much fun you had while at school will go a long way.
• Talk about school as a ‘happy place’. Positive and cheerful thoughts are the way to go.
• Be patient with them. Just like you, they may have a lot of questions too. Understand them and try not to overwhelm them with too much information.
• Encourage laughing and giggling. It is such a great way to release any form of anxiety.

STEP 3 – Set up a morning routine well in advance

A big school is different from the protected environment that your little one loved going to. It is a good idea to set up a new morning routine a week to 10 days before so that you can help your little one ease into this new routine. It is important that you impart a routine and make the first day of school easy for your child. After all, we don’t want a sleepy and cranky little child on their first day of school, do we?

• Wake your little one up with a lot of time in hand, so that you can comfortably get them ready for school with a few minutes to spare as well.
• Get all your information on school timings and bus pickups to avoid any delays.
• Make sure your little one has had a good breakfast. They will take some time to get used to the new school routine and timings. An empty stomach will not help in any way.

STEP 4 – It’s Showtime!

The day has finally arrived. Your little one has been fed, her bag is packed and she is all excited and ready for school.

• Be calm and make sure you put on a happy face even though you may be very anxious. Children are very conscious about emotions and can easily sense if their parents are worried.
• Give your little one a big, warm hug and a kiss. Make sure you tell them that you will be excited and waiting for them to finish their big day.
• While your child is older now and they might not shed tears, but if they do, remember that this, too, is a normal part of the transition process. However, make sure that you stay strong for your little one.
• Trust that your little one will be happy in their new school in a couple of days.

STEP 5 – Talk! Talk! Talk!

Once your child has settled in her ‘big’ school, it is also equally important to create an environment at home where your child feels comfortable enough to tell you about everything and anything that happens during their day there. From the friends that they make to the exciting things that they learn to even the moments where they were not happy, making sure your little one has an open and honest conversation with you about their new school, will help build a strong parent and child relationship that will last for years to come.

We understand that moving your child to a ‘big’ school can be tough and quite challenging for both you and your little one. However, do remember that this too shall pass and within a couple of months, everything will be back to normal, regular routines would be in place and you would all be glad to put this phase behind you. Till then, have faith in your little one, soak in these new experiences, try and enjoy every moment of it and remember that it is ok to feel anxious and that everything will be fine and your child will be completely ready for school.