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

[EllieMumsnet]

This activity is now closed

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

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

pep talk was about how to be a good friend and also to tell the teacher if they needed a wee

I think nursery school is the best help towards preparing for starting reception. It helps them to get used to what its like being with other children and being without mum/dad. My daughter is always talking about when she starts school and i think im more nervous about it than her.

We starts bedtime routine ealier and my kids try to eat by themself.

be prepared the night before (eg packing everything up) and get up early than needed - nothing worse than being late the first day

We went in to the taster sessions so got to meet the teacher and see some class mates.
Also get to go in the day before school starts to see the classroom again.

Have school uniforms ready and have tried them on.

Taught how to put on coat, shoes and clothes.
Knows how to go to toilet by themselves.

Told them to use good listening ears for when teachers asks or tells them to do something.

Make sure to check and prepare their school bag for the day ahead the night before. Also prepare thier school lunch (if they take one) the night before too. This saves a lot of time in the next busy but important morning.

I really think my little one going with a childminder a few days a week definitely helped his transition into school. He was very shy around other children and I was really worried about the impact of this at school. However once he developed his social skills, starting school for him was a breeze! we also got into a morning routine prior to him starting, which was a vast improvement from our hectic mornings before this :)

I make sure all my DDs uniform, shoes and kit are sorted days before so the is no rush or stress in the morning. As a bit of a tradition I cook pancakes in the morning of the first day back at school.

plenty of conversation and dropping the topic of school into conversations to 'normalise' it - talk about others they know starting school and always be positive about it. even if you are feeling wobbly - don't let your child overhear you telling others that you are worried.

Practicing carrying a tray with toy plates and cups is useful to help them learn how to carry a tray at lunchtime in the canteen. Encouraging them to always tell someone/ ask for help if they are struggling.

Finally NAME everything - helps prevent them losing the items they need for school

We have chatted about it lots and made up stories at bedtime about how much fun it will be. She has loved trying the uniform on :)

Label everything and prepare as much as you can the night before

Arranging playdates with other kids who are going there. It will be fine!!!

We talked about how great it will be and went shopping for stationery and a bag then sat together and packed the bag the night before. My little girl was so excited!

Give them lots of encouragement, reassure them!

We've practiced getting our uniform on and off and going to toilet without mummy! Also we've talked a lot about how exciting it is and its a big girl thing, meeting new friends etc so I'm feeling hopeful. Some good tips here too

We talked about the routine of day, focusing on the positives like making friends and learning, about what would happen at lunch time and about how grown up they were going to school!

My little man is due to start school next week. He doesn't really understand what school is, he's been going to the school preschool for the past year, but due to medical conditions, he just doesn't understand what's going on.

He will just take it in his stride and will love it, on his taster day, he walked in and he waved goodbye to me, didn't mind being in a different setting.

I am always talking to him about starting school for if he does understand what I am saying.

get 1 thing ready each day in the week running up to it. builds excitement, takes the pressure off the big day and makes it less of a big step. be relaxed and try to explain what to expect.

I prepare mine by letting them choose a ruck sack / stationery / book bag key rings that they are really excited to show off to their friends.

I also do lots of reading and recapping with them and going really over the top with how amazed I am at how clever they are. I try to make them feel as confident as I can to offset any anxieties about a change of class / school.

We practiced putting on shoes and pe kit and talking about how exciting school was :)

We encourage and talk. We talk over his worries about starting a new year ( teacher,friends,school work, homework etc ) and try our best to keep him as prepared and asworry free as we can.

With my first son we made a big deal of him leaving nursery and telling him how big he is becoming and we celerbrated with dinner out that he was growing up.
We then over the course of the summer at random times would ask him how he was feeling about primary school and we told him all the things that he would get up to and all the friends he was going to meet.

We even found some stories that were similar and would read them to him. As the time grew closer we asked him more questions to see if he had any worries and if he did we would talk to him about them.

The best thing i found was just talking about it and making it a big deal for him. Get excited with them, tell stories!

We just make sure that the kids are happy to go back by talking about the fun things they have done in the previous years. My son has also been telling my daughter who is starting nursery about all the fun things she will be doing and what he enjoyed

I tried to make sure we had all the practical stuff sorted (uniform, gym kit and so on) and we talked lots about how exciting it would be to make new friends, learn to read etc. Amazingly she went in with no tears and hasn't looked back since!

Try to meet the other children before if possible

Act very excited, let them try on their school uniform. Pick their new school supplies and what they want for lunch. Xx