Share your memories of your DCs and your own first day of school with F&F – £200 voucher prize draw NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

F&F has asked us to find out what Mumsnetters remember from their DCs first day of school as well as what you remember from your own first day of school.

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"We know that Back to School can be a stressful and emotional time for parents and our aim is to make the transition from holidays to school as easy as possible. We?re really looking forward to hearing your memories and stories about starting school!"

So, what do you remember from your DCs first day of school? Did their excitement turn into a bundle of nerves as you left them at the school gate? If your DC is going off to school for the first time this September, how do you feel about it? Are you thrilled for their next step or nervous about how they will cope with the change? Can you take yourself back to your own first day of school? What do you remember?

Everyone who comments on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £200 F&F e-voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

I was ostracised by the rest of the class because I kicked the elderly teacher on her bad leg.

We had moved house, and I started mid-term in Y1. No induction, no settling-in, my mum had to bring me in after registration and leave me. I was overwhelmed and I remember vividly the shakey feeling. All I wanted was the chance to stay quietly at the back of the room for a little while, take it all in, before walking into the lions' den. I had not realised that Mummy would have to leave so quickly. The teacher tried to get me to join in before I was ready, I was holding back the tears, and, when she took hold of me, I pushed her away. She grabbed hold of me with both hands and I exploded, kicking and fighting to get away.

It was miserable. Not a good start.

My dc OTOH had induction days (even for a mid-term start), and compassionate teachers who realised that some children need to watch a bit from the side-lines before joining in. Their first days were exciting and positive experiences.

My first day of school went ok until I decided that Id rather be playing in the dressing up area instead of in the classroom, must have been not long before the end of the day and I remember all the teachers and my mum bursting in and being so relieved to find me!! My mum was not impressed!!
My ds first day at school went great after he had to be literally peeled off of me.. I had a little cry on the way home

My first day at school was lovely! I remember the room having a pinkish glow from the coloured paper at the windows and a huge island full of autumnal things. As I walked around the island display I bumped into another little girl. We are best friends still, 30 years later.

My ds started school a few years ago now, and I remember putting his school jumper on him, with a logo on. Ds asked about the logo and I explained that it meant he belonged to a community now and the logo was the badge, 4 yo ds looked at me and said " but mummy, I am an individual." We still laugh about it now!

I just remember dropping my 3 boys off on their first day, looking very smart in their blazers and shorts yet very small still, then going home and crying because I missed them, but probably more that their toddler days were over. Didn't last long though only until I began to enjoy a bit of freedom!

My first day at school was so long ago that I don't really remember it that clearly. However, it was a large school painted a strange shade of green. It seemed very hot and always smelled of rather rancid milk and overcooked cabbage. We had to eat everything at lunchtime too which came as a bit of a shock as the food was horrible. And I started school and then promptly caught every bug (including measles, mumps and chicken pox) going so hardly seemed to be there for the first term! And one of my first learning-to-read books had the word nasturtium in it .

I recall DS's first day a lot more clearly than DD's. All dressed up in his uniform looking so smart and cute. Was heavily pregnant with DD at the time, so waddled all the way there and back. Seemed like a very long day without him at home!

I got told off for declaring another child's painting didn't look like My Little Pony Land. I thought this was most unjust as it didn't! Have developed a little more tact since then.

My Mum took the morning off work to take me. It was January intake. I was sat at a small table next to a girl called Sally whose Mum my Mum knew. We were drawing pictures and the teacher was called Mrs Ayers (she works in the library still now) We'd be using those chunky wax crayons, and the smell still reminds me of primary school. I apparently told my Mum she could go. Later I was taken into a different class with a Mrs Bousefield who became my official teacher. I loved it from the go-get.

Dd- 2009

I was horrendously nervous. Dd was going to be in a class with none of her friends from nursery. Dp and I accompanied her, we were a bit gobsmacked at the extended families all turning up with video cameras and the like. We were greeted at the door by the teacher, who introduced herself to dd. DD sat at the back, a little forlorn, and then a girl I recognised from nursery arrived with her Mum and her Mum sat her dd with mine. When they came out at lunchtime they all had one of those flower things that the wind blows round and dd said it had been fantastic.

She has just left primary and we all sobbed when she did. Brilliant years, with a brilliant teacher.

I can't remember my first day at school... But DD1 starts reception in September, and she is a bit worried about it I think, she doesn't like new situations and missed her stay and play session as she had chicken pox... So I'm outwardly excited but inwardly a bit anxious about her first day.

I can't remember my first day at school... But DD1 starts reception in September, and she is a bit worried about it I think, she doesn't like new situations and missed her stay and play session as she had chicken pox... So I'm outwardly excited but inwardly a bit anxious about her first day.

DS was most disgruntled on his first day. Not only did he feel he'd 'done school' (and wasn't greatly impressed) after his two half day taster sessions it was also his 5th birthday. Now he's going into year 5 his attitude to school has improved slightly but he'd much rather be out on his bike.

I wet my knickers and had to wear a pair of boys shorts under my dress as they had no spares! Mortified to say the least!

Me in the 70s - I remember wondering why other children were crying as it was so exciting. Clearly some had never left their mothers sides. I sat at a grey hexagonal table with a bunch of others. I remember the smell of crayons, home corner and alphabet on the wall. I had red t bar shoes. We all ended up at high school and I still know where everyone is and how they doing despite everyone heading to different unis etc many years later

DD - started school nursery FT last year and was very excited that her and her best mate had matching culottes and a new classroom. She is already telling me that she is in 'ception' now and not nursery and wants to play in the bigger playground and have school dinners. Not a care in the world

I remember doing a collage picture with bits of material on my first day of school. I thought it was great fun. I think my mum still has that picture somewhere.

I recall being late on my first day at school, my mum says she doesn't remember that (I've noted that strategy for the future!!!)

I expected DS to be exhausted after his first full day at school but it didn't bother him one bit!

My oldest doesn't start until September, but my Mum had plenty of tales about my first day.

Apparently I was quite indignant when the teacher tried to write my name on my picture, I wasn't a baby!

I suspect my 4 year old will be similar...

Dd starts school next week. I am excited for her.

I remember on my first day making necklaces out of beads and practising writing my name. My teacher was lovely. Probably the only teacher that I connected with ever.

I hope Dd has more than one good teacher over the years!

I can't remember my first day of primary school, but my first day of secondary school I was a nervous wreck!
My daughter starts pre school in September, she is so excited! I think she will love it, but I think I will feel quite emotional on the first week.

I remember making flowers in a craft activity. We all did daisy style then some clever clogs did a lupin.

On DS's 1st day at playgroup (aged 2), he shouted at me to go away when I arrived to collect him.

My sister is 5 years older than me and I always wanted to go to school from the first day I could talk everytime we took my sister to school I would cry because I wanted to stay and couldnt understand why I couldn't start school yet.
When my turn finally came round I was so excited and not nervous at all .when mum came to pick me up I was not very happy because I couldn't have a cup of tea as far as I was concerned this was the end of the world!
My daughter really loves school and cant wait to get back after the six weeks her first day she was very excited and had a fab day luckily she doesn't drink tea

I was very nervous coming up to my first day at school, despite my two brothers and my sister already being there - or perhaps because they were there, telling me all kinds of stories!

So my mother made me a little knitted bear, about 4 inches tall, just big enough to go in my pocket, to comfort me when I needed him.

To begin with he was a deep rusty-red, but after many washes, forgotten in my pocket and an encounter with some vicious clothes-moths, he is now, 53 years later, light brown, with darker patches to cover the holes. He is still Rusty Bear though, the origin of my Mumsnet name, and enjoying retirement in his rocking chair on my desk.

My own two showed no signs of needing any kind of comfort toy, they were both desperate to get to school with all their friends!

My first day.
I was quite scared, but my big brother had been at school for a year and he would be there at break and lunchtime and promised to look after me. My mum dropped us off and went on to work. There was a bit of a flurry when I went into the school with my bro which I didn't really follow. My brother said goodbye and went off to his classroom. I was taken into a large classroom with lots of toys and things to do. I was the only child there. Mum had got the date wrong and while my brother started back that day, the (what is now) Reception class didn't. I played for the morning until my mum could come and get me after work, at lunchtime. I think I had another week at home with my little brother.

DD
DD was very keen. She had been to a fantastic nursery which had engendered a love of learning in her. She could already read a bit, write a bit and add up a bit. We had bought her uniform, and she was really looking forward to being a 'big girl' and going to 'big girl school'. It was a very small school which only took up to Y2.

How disappointing it was.
First, dd was born in August and they wouldn't let the younger children in Reception stay longer than lunchtime. Furthermore, the younger children were not allowed to wear uniform. To cap it all, it turned out that nor were they allowed to read, write or add up.

In retrospect, I should have bulldozed dh into agreeing to change school, and sending her to our friend's dd's school which did none of the above, or sending her back to nursery who would have loved to have her for another term or two, but no.

DD's love of learning quickly disappeared under their tender ministrations. It took a loooooong time to get it back and only then after we had moved house and school and she had a decent teacher - one of many now, I hasten to add.

On my first day of school I walked home at lunchtime and rang the doorbell. Shocked, my mum asked what I was doing back home. I told her that school had been nice, but I didn't think I'd be going back :)

I remember not being able to speak a word of english (lived abroad speaking German till I was 4) and being very confused by lots of things! It's all quite hazy. My eldest started a couple of years ago and that's all captured on video!! She was in all oversized clothes - summer dress well past the knees, white white socks all sparkly clean and in pigtails with a massive smile. Most kids seemed happy to be there but there were so many not happy at all. The mums who had kids not happy looked miserable and wanting to get out of there, the ones with kids who were fine were either looking a little lost themselves or were simply crying. I felt proud (and a little worried at my uncaring attitude) for just saying bye and leaving my husband to film it all. Not a tear in sight for us. Skip to a couple of months on and leaving my then youngest at preschool on day one... me sat in the car feeling very funny and emotional!

I remember bing entranced by my teacher from day one and wanting, desperately to be her helper! I wanted to be a teacher just like her from that day onwards!