Mumsnet users share with Disney Junior how they prepare their child for their first day of school

[EllieMumsnet]

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The first day of primary school is an exciting milestone and also fairly nerve-wracking for both children and parents alike. Many questions may run through your mind, such as, ‘Will my child make new friends? Will they get along with others? What type of day are they having? Preparing your child for their first day of school, can be a great way to ensure a smooth transition. From giving them guidance on how to make friends, to practising the school routine and helping them get ready can provide them with confidence for their first day. Disney Junior, together with Vee, heroine of the Disney Junior series Vampirina would love to know your tips for preparing your child for their first day of school and how you encourage them to make new friends.

Here’s what Disney Junior have to say about Vampirina: “Vampirina (AKA Vee) and her family of vampires have moved to Pennsylvania to open the very first Scare B&B. Despite being new to the neighbourhood and a bit nervous, this little girl has no trouble making friends and having fun. Meanwhile her mum, Oxana does a fabulous job at juggling the roles of a full-time mum and owner of the spookiest B&B in town! Your little one can watch Vampirina every day at 17.30 on Disney Junior!”

Watch the video below: a guide to making friends; as told by 5 year olds:

Do you explain the importance of caring and looking out for others to help them make new friends? Perhaps you try get as much information from the new school as you can about what the first day will be like? Maybe you work on independence and being able to do little tasks by themselves such as tying their own shoes? Or do you try to meet up with others who are attending the school so your child knows a few familiar faces?

Whatever your tips are for preparing your child for their first day of school, share them on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw, where three lucky winners will win a £100 Disney Store voucher plus a Vampirina goody bag for back to school.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

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My daughter will be moving up from the pre-school attached to the primary school so will be starting with many of her friends.
In the last week of the summer holidays we will be getting school time routines back so it will be easier when my children go back to school

I think it's good to focus on independence, but being confident to ask for help when needed and helping others. We do this by encouraging an environment at home which builds confidence and kindness

I tried not to let her see I was sad she was going to big school and leaving me (i worked 3 days a week, but had thurs and fri off with her) Told her stories about making new friends. We read 'going to school' books. Went uniform shopping together and spoke about packed lunches and school dinners. And she loves going to school from the first day 3 years ago!

My dd starts next week. We have spoken a lot about school. We are practicing with getting on her school uniform and will be going off to choose school shoes and a school bag. Dd also has a book about starting school which we are reading.

I have a sensitive and anxious child so we had a lot of preparation to do before school.
I drove past school with him a couple of times, we walked the route to school once so that he could see how close it was.
We bought the uniform and practiced putting on and taking off.
I showed him the school website so he could see what was going on and what the teachers and learning areas looked like.
I went through the school routine with him and also had his older cousins talk him through what happened in a day at their school.
I told him what to do if he was upset etc.
I also got him a digital watch so that he could see when it was time for me to pick him up.
After all that he still cried on his first day but I know he would've been much worse if I hadn't done all that.

I prepared by making sure they could...
Use a knife and fork
Wipe their own bottom and wash their hands.
How to hold a pencil properly.
Practiced getting dressed and undressed for PE. Left top buttons open to make it easier. Bought velcro shoes for easy removal.
Practiced recognising and writing their own name.

We also attended sessions at the local soft play for children starting at their school.

Walked passed the school regularly showing them which was their playground and talking about fun things they would do while there.

My LO starts reception in s few weeks. We have been talking about it regularly, as have ore-school. They have a very good relationship with the school so LO has already been able to visit his new classroom several times with his new teacher and TA.
We have been reading books about starting school and we have also purchased a 'uniform' for his favourite teddy bear so that they can be the same.

My d's starts school in September . We met a couple of children that will be in his class and have been meeting up over the summer holidays. It's nice for him to have a familiar face and it's made him feel very excited to start. I planned on getting him to get himself dressed every day but it's something that he has actually just started doing himself . With lots of talk about school i think he is keen to be independent. We are also enjoying our days together as soon he will be there 5 days a week he's been having down time watching movies and playing with his brother and enjoying being a four year old!

Practising getting dressed and undressed ready for PE but ultimately not talking too much about it as we suspect he’s more nervous than he lets on.

I arranged play dates over the summer with friends from nursery who were going to the same school. I also made sure my daughter could tie her own shoes and use a knife and fork independently. I also bought her uniform she was excited to wear, eg pretty shoes

My tips is to have questions ready to talk about their day. My son had phonics in the morning so everyday I’d ask what sound he learnt, what he had at snack time, what he chose to play at choosing time, what he had for lunch, did he eat it all, who he sat next to, who he played with. I found that he settled in well by sharing everything with me.

A week before school, we talked about how to make new friends, practiced on waking up early and eating properly. These steps are just the basics.

Our prep checklist was:

Being able to put on/take off coat, jumper and shoes. (get velcro ones)

Recognising the labels with their name on (so what's theirs)

Getting excited abotu going, visit days, meeting up with other classmates in the summer before so they aren't walking in to a room of unknown people.

With the benefit of hindsight my advice is just don't make a big deal out of it. It's more of a change for you than your child if they've been to pre-school.

Practice putting on uniform and wearing shoes. And try to get them used to going to the toilet before they're desperate!

Try and meet up with other new starters in the 6 weeks and talk about how the school day is likely to go. Listen to any questions or worries and of course practice uniform

We made play dates with a few people in her class over the holidays

We had some lovely First Day of School books. My children both went to the school taster afternoons so they knew where they were going. We reminded them of how to ask for help. We made sure we were all organised, we had the correct uniform and bags, and chose healthy snacks together!

For me it's all about making sure that the kids know to behave themselves, show respect, but also know things like safely walking to school on their own (at the right age obviously). We've also gotten clothes ready as they tend to be discounted around this period of the summer.

All the right equipment, uniform that fits, a smart hair cut/ hair braiding and words of engagement.

Lots of books and watching programmes about schools.

We make a day of going out to buy uniform and allow them to choose what they would like within reason as well.

We also have a calender with a countdown on it so we are all prepared.

Talked about it only in positive terms and made sure they could dress themselves, eat properly etc.
Made it into an exciting adventure which was going to be lots of fun!

DD was very excited about starting school. We tried to make sure she could use the toilet (she has been a nightmare to toilet train), to get herself dressed and to ask for help if needed,

It helped that our next door neighbours boy and another neighbours girl were going to be in the same class as her, so she already knew and played with a couple of children

We have practiced handwriting, reading, number work. As well as things like buttons and zips. My DD can't wait to start school! Hoping school helps with her very fussy eating!

With my last four kiddies we have always gotten there early, as my childrens first school always has a huge chalk board and lots of toys for the children to play with before school starts.
This relaxes my child loads as they have fun playing with the toys, and one by one the other children arrive, and soon they are all playing happily, and then go in. Parents are encouraged not to even take their child in on the first day, which has worked really well (thought it sounded cruel at first!) but the kids have all been playing for at least ten minutes before they go in to hang their coats up, which they always do to music which the kids love.
So far, no worrying times with my lot starting school...just gotta see what happens with no.5!
:-)

We have talked about it for a few months and we did show her were she will be going and telling her about it being big girl school,