Do you have any pearls of wisdom for children starting school next month?

[BedHog]

I've seen lots of threads with advice for parents of school starters - good tips about labelling possessions, taking snacks along at the end of the day, that kind of thing.

What advice would you give to a child though? What can I say to my DS that will make his first weeks in reception a bit easier? It's 30 years a long time since I started primary school, things must have changed a lot! Tips from other DCs would be particularly welcome!

DD is 5yo and has just finished reception. She said...

"Have lots and lots of fun and work hard at everything. Work hard at work stuff like numbers and reading and work hard at making friends and being kind. If you can't do something, persevere and it gets easier and easier until you're an expert."

Oh she's just added...

"Cuddle your Mum now, that's the only thing you can't do at school".

My DS wanted to know the structure of the day - so that they started with register, then did stuff in groups, had break, did free play, had lunch etc. It was handy to tell him that so he understood how "long" the day would be.

Also think it's handy to give them "making friends" tips. DD was worried about this. I suggested lines she could use with other children such as "My name is X, what's your name?" and "would you like to play mums and dads* ?"

• the game of choice for 4 year old girls around here.

And tell them if they're ever worried about anything in class that the teacher would want to know.

Thankyou, these are great! Showy your DD sounds adorable - such wisdom at an early age.

They still play 'Mums and Dads' do they? I remember many happy playtimes dragging a one-eyed naked tiny tears doll round the schoolyard by its leg, arm in arm with a scruffy 5 year old lad. Great parenting practice!!!

Do what the teacher tells you.
There will be lots of nice things to play with.
Have fun.

Although everything said on here is great stuff, I'd be very wary of confusing him by telling him lots of things he should remember. I think my 4yo's brain would have exploded if I'd done that! And the structure of his day might be totally different from the structure in someone else's reception class. Best to go with the flow!

Luckily some of his friends are going to the same school so that should make things a bit easier.

What should I advise him to do if someone says or does something nasty to him? Stick up for himself? Tell a teacher? Ignore it? He tends to get upset at the slightest thing at the moment, to the extent of being a bit of a drama queen.

Any advice about lunch? We're probably going to have school dinners some days and packed lunch others.

1. School is fun, lots of new things to learn and do.

1. Listen to the teacher, it is polite and what school girls/boys do.

1. Share with your classmates

1. If somethings bothers you, tell me and tell the teacher. There are there to listen to you.

Ask him to give you a cuddle and kiss before they go in. I somehow doubt it will be a lot longer until DD refuses to do so when lining up and it is my favourite moment of the day.

If someone does something nasty tell a teacher. But I really wouldn't tell him that until/unless it happens. You don't want him worrying that there will be lots of nasty people at school!

Packed lunches - make sure everything is in packages that he can open and err on the side of not giving him too much. They often don't get all that long to eat and dinner ladies may try and make them eat it all up. Give him what he will realistically eat, not extra, and be prepared to give him a decent snack as he walks out of the classroom when you get home.