Getting School Ready

This month we are talking about helping you and your little ones get ready for Big School!

Where have the years gone? Your little one is going off to school. You are handing over your
most precious person to another group of people to educate and guide. Sometimes us
parents are more worried about this than our little ones. We have held the responsibility for 5
years and now we have to share? So many feelings; excitement, anticipation, relief? All
completely normal for us and our little people.

No matter what is thrown our way we want to try and let our kids know that this is just the
next step. We have researched the school, we know it is safe, we know that education is
important. Worry is normal and you and your little one will get through this together. And as
any parent with a child already at school will tell you a school day is so short!

Practical things to help your and your little ones get ready for school:

~ Start working on some of the physical things your little ones will need to be able to do for school - can they go to the toilet on their own? Can they open their own lunch boxes and anything that is in there - sometimes new lunch boxes are tricky. All of the school and education components will be handled by their teachers, but being interested and excited will help your little ones to enjoy this too.

~ Arranging a meet up spot for the afternoon pick up can be reassuring to nervous little ones and let them know that you or the person that will be picking them up will be there.

~ At the end of the day your child may have used up all of their 'goodness' following all the
rules and learning, so they may need to discharge some energy. A park on the way home or
some time to run is a great way to get rid of some restless energy before going home.

~ The other super important thing is to remember that new situations can be stressful and therefore tiring. To cope with all that is ahead of them our little ones need sleep, and possibly in that first few weeks of school an even earlier bedtime than they usually have. Allow some extra time for all the words to pour out. Sleep really is a super power and we are all happier with more of it.

~ The last piece of advice that I have for you is to take care of you. That first morning, arrange for a coffee date or to catch up with friends. Let all the emotions out! It is a big deal!