How do you prepare your child for the first day of school or nursery?

[SorchaMumsnet]

Mouse doesn’t like school... she loves it! If your little one is starting school or nursery soon, Mouse's Big Day is the perfect reassuring picture book to read together.

It's a big day for Mouse – her first day at school! But she doesn’t want to go. Not one bit. Luckily there's a class full of new friends waiting for her, and Mouse is about to learn just how brilliant school can be.

In Mouse's Big Day, you will meet the cast of adorable animal characters from Twit Twoo School, drawn by the award-winning and bestselling illustrator of the What the Ladybird Heard adventures, Lydia Monks.

Get ready for school with these Mouse's Big Day activity sheets

For a chance to win a copy of the book in a bundle of gorgeous picture books (worth £100) from Macmillan Children's Books, including The Detective Dog and Little Red, just tell us - how did you or how do you plan to prepare your child for the first day of school or nursery?

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This discussion is sponsored by Macmillan Children's Books and will end on Thursday 31 August

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I found settling in sessions were great for preparing dd for nursery. Us appearing confident and positive about it must have helped too

Our school were fantastic in introducing my daughter into the environment over a few months before she was due to start. She had several visits with her nursery key worker and one on her own (with her new classmates). It helped her feel less anxious. We'd talk about it at home, read books about school and watch her favourite characters on TV having their first days too (Topsy and Tim!).

Induction days were great help. I also tried distancing myself more so letting them go out for a few hours without me with my friends or siblings etc

My dd has been deferred for a year due to ASD
I have 12 months now to get her ready!
We will be focusing on toileting skills, getting dressed and undressed, in addition to following rules and social skills

We had induction mornings, and we've done some play dates with people who will be her nursery- mates. We also had a book called 'my first day at nursery' which she wanted constantly.
We also talked through things that might happen, and things that might be challenging- but we would work at, until we could manage!

I'll make use of any visit days to the nursery and induction processes. I'll also talk lots about the new experience with my child, including the use of 'social stories'

We just had to change nurseries so we've had a lot of settling in to do. After settling in days we've talked to our little ones about her new friends and constantly ask her about her day. We've also practised lots of the songs/nursery rhymes so circle time is not so daunting!

Talk for weeks before about how exciting it will be and all the new friends she can meet

I have prepared 2 children for their first day at school. We attended open days and took pictures, we made our own little book about school and what happens and looked at it every few days in the run up. Plenty of rest and cuddles in the days prior and quiet and calm routines before and after school while they settle. Lots of choice of bags, socks, hairstyles, lunches/snacks. I provide a special something that belongs to me (but that I wouldn't mind losing) eg. my purse (almost emptied) a key or something else the child associates with me. Helps them to be sure I'm coming back!

My eldest enjoyed playing at the nursery pre-school and talking about what would happen so I will do this for my second son when he's 3.

I'm reading this thread with interest as my son will start full time school in January. In my local area the children start on the term after their third birthday. I can't believe my little baby will be starting so soon. He's had a lot of change recently as we've had a new baby and he's joined a new nursery one day a week. To make matters more difficult, our son will be starting Welsh school and we don't speak Welsh at home so it's going to be a lot for him.

To help our son we've tried meeting up with other families who will have children going to the same school and we take our son to different groups and classes. We keep the same routines every week but especially around bed time where stories are a huge part of winding down and relaxing before bed.

My daughter is starting playgroup next month so we went for a couple of informal visits last term and she has a settling in day coming up. Other than that we just chat about it as a happy place to go and have bought some special playgroup stickers!

We spent a lot of time preparing our dd as she is very shy- we took her to induction days and practised by playing 'school' at home.

freshley ironed uniform , big breakkie and some words of encouragement thats all they need x

Before my little boy started nursery we got a few picture books from the library like 'Bears first day at nursery' and showed him how much fun he was going to have. He loves nursery now!

Lots of social stories and chats and plans for a cuppa with my best friend that day!

My son starts nursery in 2 weeks with my little brother who is also the same age. The nursery teacher was my teacher as a child and when my father passed, she really took care of me. I really trust her so luckily I don't feel I need to worry about him settling in, especially with his (younger) nephew there. Still got to buy some white shirts and grey socks and he will be a picture!
We've also sent the dummy and nappies packing this past week! Can't believe he is growing up so fast

I made it a special occasion, tried on the uniform, went to shop and bought a backpack that she liked, bought her own pencils for doing stuff at home that she had done in school so she could show me what she had been doing

We tried on all her uniform in advance. Bought school stuff together. Packed her p.e kit. Included her in any child friendly ways. Walked past the school too

I made sure she was used to time away from me, and had attended play group. Schools always have introductory sessions. Also read books about starting school and played imaginary games with her dolls about it. Above all this all needs doing in a very matter of fact way, so you and the child don't get anxious about it.

Keep talking about nursery the week before taking them helped my little girl get used to the idea.
reassure them that you are coming back for them later.
stay for the first 10 minuets and watch them to reassure yourself too.
Always say good bye do not sneak off they need to get used to it.

Regularly talk casually about starting school or nursery and what your child's routine will be so that they can gradually absorb the changes and there shouldn't be too many nasty shocks. We point out the school every time we go past it and mention DS will soon be going there every day. He is lucky that he already knows several of the children who will be in his class but otherwise I would emphasise the excitement of getting to play with some new friends. We regularly read books together about starting school or nursery.

took her early in morning to meet the class and teacher

We had two induction afternoons before our daughter started nursery so that she could familiarise herself with the setting and staff a little. Then we kept talking to her about the activities she might do there. We kept pointing the place out when we drove past as we only live round the corner. We still keep it in a lot of our conversations now as she isn't conpletely settled still

To prepare our little girl who is starting school in september - we've gradually upped her hours from the age of 2 at preschool to full time (9-2:50) She has learned so much, and can now handle this amount of time at preschool every day!