Firstborn about to start school - hand holding and advice please!

[babybouncer]

I didn't think I was worried about this, but could anyone tell me how to do this, please?

As a teacher, I can't do any of the first few day drop offs - DH will - but DS is starting to get a little excited and anxious and I don't want to say or do anything to make this stressful for him. What are your top tips or advice to make this go smoothly?

My Dad has always maintained the best way is to just talk about how exciting school is and how much fun they will have and how you can't wit to hear all about their first day, but not to mention that you will miss them or talk about friends or nursey/pre-school - he reckons it reminds them of the friends they will miss because they are going to different schools - and don't tell them they will do x,y and z unless you know they definitely will be doing x y and z on the first day. Oh and say good bye the same as you usually would in the morning, nothing like a tearful hug, 'I will miss you so much' and unusual amounts of fuss to make a child anxious.

(Gave Dad's advice rather than mine as he has done the first day and getting ready stuff with all 8 of his children and with my eldest so knows a lot more than I do.)