My 4.5 PFB starts school on monday (sob!!)...any tips on how I can make it a happy time for him?...

[becaroo]

...and not the traumatic nightmare I remember from my first day of school?

He is a child who hates new things and who gets quite anxious about change. After a shaky start he has LOVED nursery and I am hoping that school will be the same (he will be on the same campus and with mostly the same children he has been with for 18 months)

I was wondering if anyone had any tips on what not to do/what to expect?

Cant believe my baby is going to school

MY PFB is also starting school on Monday (only mornings for this term and next as they have termly entry the term after they are 4).

I am sure I will cry .

Think he will be OK though - he is currently excited .

My ds also starts on Monday - he's got a home visit tomorrow from his new teacher. Not that worried as he used to go to nursery 4 mornings a week and all day on Mondays (loves to eat his lunch at school with his friends). However, he doesn't know anybody from his old school who will be going to this new one but I'm sure he'll make lots of friends.
I also can't believe my baby is going to 'big' school! Now I've just got his sister at home until she is big enough to go to nursery (18 months old!)

So does mine and she seems such a baby it's breaking my heart

she said today "I just think I'll stay at home with you forever mummy" [sob]

don't hang around looking sad

find him something to do,there will probably be stuff set out

get him sitting with someone he knows or start chatting with another child

loads of smiles

cheery bye

don't hang around and look through the window

teacher or ta will deal with them if there are tears ,and you can call the school to check

Be happy and enthusiastic. School is brilliant - they bring reading books home and go on trips and tell you stories about which teacher has a moustache and everything.

Get involved if you can - even if you work full-time and can't help in class, you can still go to weekend fairs/sports day/early morning book fairs etc. And one day off a year to go on a coach trip to the zoo will pay off in spades.

Be on time. Having to rush getting dressed, breakfast and getting to school will freak you both out.

Have the right stuff on the right day. If you need to pin a note on your kitchen wall, then do so. Nothing worries a worrying child more than not having the right PE kit or their dinner money etc. And go through their book bag every day so you're always up-to-date with school letters (we get loads)!

And relax about it. It will add a new dimension to your relationship with your PFB, not take anything away.