Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

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

146 replies

SorchaMumsnet · 03/08/2017 10:37

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?

Buy the book from Amazon

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

Books T&Cs apply

How do you prepare your child for the first day of school or nursery?
OP posts:
buckley1983 · 13/08/2017 22:08

My LO starts school this September (argh!) so hoping to pick up some tips! Up to this point - he's been into school for a couple of afternoon sessions & his teachers have come into nursery to meet up with him & some of his nursery friends who are also going to the same school.
I've tried to involve him in the shopping - choosing school bag & shoes, etc. He's enjoyed that bit, but not very keen on the uniform at all.. so that'll be fun come September!
The school have actually been great & have sent out a booklet with photographs of the staff, the classroom, cloakroom & school grounds & we've enjoyed looking through this together. That's actually something I wouldn't have thought of, but has gone down really well with LO.

sweir1 · 13/08/2017 22:58

With plenty of encouragement and bribery if necessary!

peanutmum111 · 14/08/2017 00:13

Each of my sons were different. The eldest needed more support, we went to play groups, read books, tried on the uniform ..........
The youngest was desperate to be like his brother. He saw the fun he had, how safe he was when he was picked up.
But I have to say the school and reception staff were superb.

Dormouse1940 · 14/08/2017 16:33

When DS started nursery I think I was the one that needed the preparation! We did a few visits before hand, and some introductory sessions where I could stay and play with him.
We also had the 'Spot Loves Nursery' book we could read at bedtime.

I think starting school will be easier in some ways, as he can be more involved in trying on uniform etc, but also harder as he'll be so much more vocal and may have more anxieties about it.

mishknight · 15/08/2017 22:31

I prepared my little girl by reading her a book called 'First Day at school' . Also I made pancakes her very first day and have continued this tradition every first day at school in September for the last 4 years

chezvic · 16/08/2017 11:37

My little girl starts school in September and she's had a half day at school with myself and then stayed for half a day on her own. We have talked about who will be in her class from nursery and that there'll be other new children for her to get to know. She's been with me to the shop for her uniform and I've hung it in her wardrobe so she can see it. We've tried it on a couple of times so she gets used to it. We've also made a big deal about getting her school shoes. I'm trying to teach her to put her hand up when she wants to ask us something and we've also started to put fingers on lips for quiet time. She loves listening to stories already and likes to write words down if we spell them for her so I think she's already interested in learning new things at school.

Pipstarz41 · 16/08/2017 20:23

We're moving house soon and have picked a new nursery near the new house. We took our LO along when we went to look at the nursery and she liked it. To keep reminding her about the new nursery we keep talking about it, that there will be a change, that there will be lots of nice new boys and girls there.
The nursery will offer settling in sessions which we will attend and ultimately we will be trying to make the whole experience exciting rather than scary.

Mummy2aRockstar · 17/08/2017 00:39

About a week before my son started school we practiced getting ready in the mornings so we could leave by a certain time and we walked to the school which is only a 5 minute walk. He had an induction day so got to met his teacher and knew what to expect when school started.

Sid98 · 17/08/2017 04:27

I talk to them and tell them what to expect

KandSWh · 17/08/2017 06:56

By doing lots of talking about it and what will/may happen. Answering her questions honestly (without scaring her!). Making sure that she can dress/undress herself even when her clothes are in a heap, inside-out and mixed up with other people's clothes!

Oh, and by telling her that she CANNOT come and visit Mummy in her classroom (I'm a teacher there too!).

Narnianescape · 17/08/2017 07:28

By explaining what happens at school and how it shows how big she is

lizd31 · 17/08/2017 08:38

Olivia is going to school for the first time in September. She's really excited as she had a trial day last month which she really enjoyed. She met lots of new friends & the teachers said she was very advanced for her age so we have no worries.

compy99 · 17/08/2017 09:13

we made a point of regularly walking past and and looking at the school, also had some short visits and induction days.

beckyinman · 17/08/2017 09:51

Mine went to a childminder anyway 2 days a week so we just spoke about it in a similar way - she would get to play with more children and more toys and be a big girl. We did also put a few naughty treats in the lunchbox the first few days as a bit of a sweetener to the deal!

silviuccia · 17/08/2017 10:02

My Big one wants to start the reception as soon as possible :D He asks me every day in the morning "is it open today the big school?" :)
The Little one was in the nursery with her brother in July and she was so happy :)

littlemonkeyz · 17/08/2017 10:18

A good routine during the holidays helps with the switch to a new 'school' routine in September. I also get my little boy to make his own 'school chart', making pictures and deciding what time he should get up, have breakfast etc.

bridge16 · 17/08/2017 10:53

We have read some good books quite a lot recently about starting school and over the holidays have been doing a little 'home school' in preparation. Just fun things like practicing his writing etc. My little one is so excited to start!

Pmliu · 17/08/2017 12:14

My littles ones have always been very confident and independant from a very young age. Before my oldest little one started nursery she was already very excited about starting nursery. On her first day of nursery, she just gave me a hug goodbye and was off without even looking back, she was happy to start nursery. Now my oldest is waiting eagerly to start school and my middle little one can't wait to start nursery. I didn't really have to do much with preparing them for nursery & school, I just talked to them about all the new friends they will make and all the exciting fun things they will do and learn at school.

andywedge · 17/08/2017 12:18

It's easy for the child. It's something new and exciting. For the parent thought it's a wrench, and a painful one too.

cnut · 17/08/2017 13:58
  1. Let your child know what his schedule will be like. Tell him what time school begins and ends each day.
  1. Ask your child about her feelings both the excitement and the concerns about starting school.
  1. Visit the school with your child to see his new classroom and meet his new teacher before school officially starts.
  1. Point out the positive aspects of starting school. It will be fun and she can make new friends.
  1. Let your child know that all kids are nervous about the first day of school.
yourgrace · 17/08/2017 14:57

we told him lies,seemed to have worked

ameswright2906 · 17/08/2017 17:20

My 5 year old son starting school last year and my 4 year old daughter is starting this year. It always helps to take the younger child with you on school runs so that they can get used to the environment. She is also very involved with choosing her school shoes and uniform which makes her very excited.

user1499609137 · 17/08/2017 18:30

Talking about school getting them exited for all the new things that they will be doing.

freefan · 17/08/2017 19:56

DD is just starting nursery and luckily a lot of her little friends from playgroup are going so it hopefully won't be too strange.
We have been visiting and talking about all the fun things that she will do, drawing pictures and reading stories with shopping for all the little essentials together.

cj46122 · 17/08/2017 20:07

play sessions a few weeks before going! lots of encouragement

Swipe left for the next trending thread