How to Prepare Your Child for The First Day of School

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By calderhead
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Properly preparing your child for the first day of school is key to having a stress-free school year and end of summer. A few simple steps will prepare your child emotionally and physically for the first day of school.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Talk to your child often well in advance of the first day of school to let the child know what is going to happen. This will reduce the amount of stress associated with the first day because he or she has been thinking about it and anticipated the event.
Step 2

Have a countdown to the first day of school that the child can participate in. This allows the child to grasp how soon in the future the first day will be.
Step 3

Go shopping for schools supplies with your child. Allow him or her to pick out some of the supplies that they like such as folder design, backpack, lunch box, pencils, etc. If they enjoy the process of preparing for school and have input, they will like school better.
Step 4

Make sure that you have gotten all of the required school supplies.
Step 5

Go to the schools preschool open house. This lets you and your child a chance to walk the building prior to the start of the school year. It also allows you a chance to introduce your child to his or her teacher.
Step 6

If you anticipate a bit of separation anxiety, prepare a small photo album of picture for your child. A few wallet photos in a carrier will allow your child to look at pictures of you and your family while at school when you are missed. I have found this to be very helpful for children with separation anxiety.
Step 7

Allow your child to participate in the planning of the big first day of school such as what outfit to wear.
Step 8

Get a good night of sleep starting several days before the first day of school. Also start arranging the sleep schedule by getting up progressively around the time that you will need to wake during the school year.
Step 9

On the first day of school make sure that you are not rushed in the morning. Get up early enough to prepare and get to school bus or school without feeling rushed or stressed.