Bookbag - first day (feeling bad)

[littlebylittle]

I can't believe it but my dd will start school without bookbag. I did put in order but not collected. No excuses but have been mithering over it. Will it be okay to collect it first day or should I pop into school on first day of term which is inset day? I think really it will be okay and is my necessary thing to worry about to distract from being bit sad about dd starting school but would welcome gentle thoughts.

My daughter started (state) primary on her first day without school uniform. Well I thought that since the orders were made via the school and schools are shut in the holidays we would pick it up on the first day of school! But the deputy head spotted her in the playground and had a word with us about it ...

Get a grip! I'm not being judgy and I'm not trying to make anyone feel crappy! Thing is everyone is telling you that it will be ok, to cheer you up. There are myriad things which are largely unimportant to parents because they aren't a big deal, but which to children are the end of the world!

The mother in question, was not on holiday and came in with the list on the 1st day of school. I know the parent v well and I'm stating facts, as the mum told me from her point of view uniform is a waste of time for reception children, so she got the very basics at the last possible moment. It wasn't at all important to the mum, but it was to the child, I'm not being judgy I'm pointing out the situation from the childs perspective.

Personally I do think it had an impact on the child settling, thats my opinion, and i'm entiled to have one when the little girl spent the 1st 2 weeks clinging to my dd and repeatedly taking her cardigan home, what would you think?

I'm not saying its not important to the op clearly it is, but if everyone says "don't worry about it" then to a degree the childs potential upset is being dismissed.

As for Teddies! the reception children (last year)had a teddybears picnic at the end of week 1, They took their favourite teddy's in for the 1st week.

This year the theme is "treasure bag" its a paper bag they put special reminders of home in to talk about in the 1st few weeks. AFAIA its a normal part of the curriculum. :)

and its nowhere near too late to get one delivered anyway

PE kit! I have it but wasn't planning to send in on first day of term - surely won't be needed for the first few days by which time there will be a timetable to look at to work out which days to send it in? Do you reckon kit should be sent with kids on first day? I had to collect jumpers, school bag, etc in the summer holidays before the school office shut as also wasn't organised to have in good time (was worried about the unlikely event of a large growth spurt over the 6 weeks also, completely unreasonably)

Send in the PE kit - I didn't and on the first day I was informed by my dd's teacher that it had been needed my dd had been unable to take part in PE as a consequence.
I wasn't too impressed with the school's ability to communicate, but all the second time mum's knew from bitter experience that the pe bag was needed on the first day - nothing like feeling like an inadequate green horn!.

To the op - to help you relax a little I'd ring the school on the inset day to see if you can pick the bag up and ask if you will need to bring in another bag for letters, books etc if your dd does not have her book bag for the first day.

PE kit is usually kept at the school and is returned at the half term for washing - sounds a bit grim, but when you consider that they really don't wear it for very long in the PE lesson it works out fine.

Also spare change of uniform in case of accidents is helpful and in the case of girls add a pair of socks to the PE bag, just in case they are wearing tights on a PE day at some point. Obviously its easier for changing purposes if they aren't, but at some point sods law says its bound to happen.

haha i just started a thread on book bags myself! thanks for the link kaq

You're welcome Mrs RB

Hello again, thanks for all the comments. DD had first day today, very smooth with the positive kind of lump in my throat. Spoke to TA at the end of morning, no need for bookbag yet and thankfully none of the others had them with them today. DD didn't want to leave her PE kit in school so we'll have to remember it again tomorrow! Nice new water bottle very good and uniform very smart and made me feel as if she was well turned out. But I'm always glad of the mix of reassurance and honesty that you get on MN.

Glad she had a good day! I also was panicking about lack of bookbag (ordered all of the other uniform online from the school website but forgot to get the bookbag from the school office) but when we arrived this morning there were only a handful of children with one. And ds was fine...not emotionally scarred forever by not having it!