Child starting reception in September - your best tip please!

[Coffeeonadrip]

As above, daughter starts reception in September. She's an only child. What's your best tip to survive this with some sanity intact?? She's been going to preschool so she should be ok separation and making friends wise. Will I be ok though?

Keep weekends and half term very low key. She will be exhausted (even if she’s been in full time nursery since 6weeks old blah blah blah, it’s different!!)

Ha, just prepare yourself for the deluge of letters from school...

Oh and don’t choose her first day to sort out baby clothes and toys as it’s the first moment you’ve had spare in years. Way too emotional!! And go easy on the class WhatsApp group, it can be overwhelming.

I found my dd was absolutely exhausted during her reception year...so don't do too much after school...TV, playing, dinner, pottering round at home.

Lay out all her clothes for the week in advance, so no frantic hunting in morning
Pack her bag night before
Make sandwiches etc night before
Get a planner app or diary book all school appts in it as soon as they arise
Buy nit treatment .She’ll get nits
Don’t join the pta or get involved in any school drama. Remember it’s your child at school not you

Take a substantial snack when you pick her up. The rest of the day goes much better if you've ruled out hunger.

If she’s having a packed lunch, get her used to opening and closing it, undoing pots etc, opening crisps/drinks cartons/whatever.

Label everything and buy more than one water bottle.

We find that Wednesday is the flash point here, they’re usually very tired so I plan a ‘proper’ dinner, but can fall back on beans on toast or something quick to enable them to get to bed as early as possible. If Wednesday is ok, I know not to bother making anything nice on a Thursday, just default straight to something on toast.

Friday is no reading night. We read every morning and night in the week, and once at the weekend. By Friday they just don’t have the inclination for it.

@RamItBunty

Lay out all her clothes for the week in advance, so no frantic hunting in morning Pack her bag night before Make sandwiches etc night before Get a planner app or diary book all school appts in it as soon as they arise Buy nit treatment .She’ll get nits Don’t join the pta or get involved in any school drama. Remember it’s your child at school not you

On nits, get a nitty gritty and comb through after every hair wash. Make it part of the routine. I’ve found prevention is better than cure.

Label everything!
Teach her to do her own zip up and how to put on her own shoes.
If she can dress & undress herself or start to even better (although I don’t know much Pe is happening with Covid).
Teach her to recognise her own name and even better if she can write it.

Take photos on your phone of letters and invitations

Get into a routine of when reading & homework happen

Done is good enough most of the time

Label things we'll

Make sure you use the email address you gave to school so you actually see updates!!

Labelling items yes of course. Use a sharpie who needs the faff of ironing or sewing labels

Show her all of her PE kit and how to identify it
Pick your battles with the school. It's a very fine balancing act between being an advocate for your child and becoming 'that parent' so that any serious requests fall on deaf ears. Encourage your child to advocate for themselves where possible and save your voice for the important stuff

@Findahouse21

Show her all of her PE kit and how to identify it Pick your battles with the school. It's a very fine balancing act between being an advocate for your child and becoming 'that parent' so that any serious requests fall on deaf ears. Encourage your child to advocate for themselves where possible and save your voice for the important stuff

Excellent advice

Lavender oil is wonderful stuff at stopping nits. Wash hair as normal, rub a couple of drops through her hair with your hands, dry and style as usual. They hate the stuff. Found it out when dd was in year 1 we haven’t had nuts since, (she’s now 12).

Yy to tiredness and snack at pick up

Do try out a few playdates, but don’t worry if they don’t go smoothly

Pound coin in her bag at all times

Help her learn to carry a tray if she’s having school dinners
If they get changed for PE, practice this.
Don’t be precious about uniform and expect several white polo tops to be written off with stains.
Make sure the water bottle survives being dropped, buy two.

@IHateCoronavirus

Lavender oil is wonderful stuff at stopping nits. Wash hair as normal, rub a couple of drops through her hair with your hands, dry and style as usual. They hate the stuff. Found it out when dd was in year 1 we haven’t had nuts since, (she’s now 12).

We use aussie spray in conditioner and have never had nits. I wonder if it has lavender in it. Or something else they hate

Label everything.

I second the packed lunch practice. We had a few picnics with his lunch box before, so he got used to opening his packets/bottles etc on his own. Also teach them how to put their coat on independently.

Ooh good thread OP - my DD1 is starting reception in September too, shes our eldest so I'm totally new to it all! 😬

Will be following and taking notes.

Label everything - then label again 😄 i use iron on labels in the necks and then also sharpie on the care label in side - never lost a thing to date 🤞

Get a system going to coordinate the notes / emails etc

Thanks, great tips everyone - keep them coming!

Also, which supermarket has the best quality uniform?