Read MNers tips for supporting your children when starting primary school

[EllieMumsnet]

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Starting primary school is a major milestone for your child, and making that jump from nursery school to primary school isn’t always easy. From making new friends to getting used to the school routine, the changes your child has to adapt to can spark both excitement and anxiety. With this in mind, Tiny Popwant to hear from you about the ways you will make or have made the transition to starting school as smooth as possible.

Here’s what Tiny Pop have to say: “Here at Tiny Pop we recognise what an exciting, yet scary, emotional and challenging time it can be when one of your little ones starts their primary school journey. We think it’s the perfect time for parents to come together and join forces to share the best tips and tricks to support little ones and the wider family as this big change takes place. Tiny Pop is here for you to support you in your new hectic routines whether it’s 10 minutes in front of Super Wings in our Wakey, Wakey segment whilst mums and dads get dressed or some much needed down time at the end of a busy day for Yeti Tales in Cuddle Time on Tiny Pop. We are here for you with old friends and new!”

What are your top tips in preparing your child for starting school? How do you make sure your child gets enough sleep with all the excitement and anxiety in the days and weeks leading up to starting school? Maybe you’ve got a special way to relax and calm them down, or maybe you’ve got some lunchbox and uniform hacks to keep the morning school-run as stress-free as possible?

All who share their tips for supporting their little ones when starting school for the first time will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 vouchers (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

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I read my daughters starting school books to prepare them and had nice treats/favourite dinners their first couple of weeks of starting school. I made a fun trip to the shops to pick lunch boxes etc which made them look forward to starting at school :)

I didn't make a big thing of it and it's never been much of a worry. You just need to reassure the kids that there's nothing to be afraid of and school is good :)

I always spoke about it with excitement and how brilliant it was going to be, not like staying at home and doing boring things like cleaning or tidying. They have never been worried about school, in fact DD2 always used to try and follow DD1 into school and had to be told they had to wait!

Make a big deal out of how grown up they are

Add little messages in their packed lunch! My mum used to do this for me and I would get so excited to find my note for the day, so I try and follow this tradition.

Let your child take the lead a wee bit rather than assuming they're excited or scared. It may well be you who 'feels' things more! My DD was thrilled and took it in her stride but there were tears and tantrums when she came home several evenings. I think creating space and expecting this isn't a bad idea. Avoid bombarding with questions about their day as they may need some unwinding time in their 'safe space' which is why so many children seemingly behave perfectly in school then lose it at home. And I did a special dinner of choice for the first day too as it is a special occasion!

If they seem worried, encourage them to talk. Join forces with other mums and together make it fun. Be there for them, but do not allow them to be too clingy. Be firm and don't cave in when the tears flow.

I spend quite a lot of time in reception classes as a volunteer. The children who struggle tend to be the ones who aren't prepared. Encouraging independence is key. It's hard for a 4 year old who can't button up their trousers after the loo, or can't open their juice cartons, or use scissors when lots of the other kids can. It leads to a lot of frustration.

I'd say those things are way more important than knowing letters before starting school.

Make it seem exciting that there going to get to play with new friends all day and do lots of exciting things well it’s worked on all my children so far so seems to work well

Ask them if they have any questions which are worrying them, and answer them as honestly as you can, try the uniform on and practice taking it on and off, and don't worry, schools have been taking our precious children in for years - they know what to do with worried little people.

Praise putting on uniform. Practice getting ready for PE. Read a few books about starring school. Understand they will probably be tired and emotional and give them loads of encouragement and praise. We get clothes out night before then in morning its up, into uniform, have breakfast, do teeth and once ready for school can watch TV for 20 mins or play.

I took ds to choose a polo shirt a few months before to get him used to collars. He was allowed to try on his uniform as much as he wanted over summer and choose his school shoes. On day 1 made no fuss, just bye and see you soon.

Build it up as something really exciting to look forward to, starting months in advance

b epositive and dont make it into a big deal!

If you can get your child to meet some of their new class friends before they start. It helps alot when they see someone they recognise on their first day.

Talk to them about it well in advance and get them excited about it

Keep them in the loop about the routine - who'll be picking them up/taking them to school so they don't get stressed out about what's happening each day. Talk about school with them and try their whole uniform on before the first day. Expect them to be exhausted and a bit cranky for the first term. Take snacks at pick up, as they will be ravenous. Don't expect them to tell you much (or anything!) about what they did each day

Keep it low key, it is just another change in their lives that they need to accept and adjust to.

Making sure you have everything organised

Try to make friends with at least one school mum

Don't plan anything after school, LO will be shattered

Pack plenty of snacks

Don't stress. Keep in touch with teachers and embrace school social media so you don't miss out on instructions or events

have a trial run by travelling to the school on a morning beforehand. make it all seem fun and exciting and nothing to be worried about! make sure you also stay calm!

Relax, keep it low key and enjoy.

keep it simple with routines and organisation so that hteres nothing extar that is new.. Also take your lead from them, if they excited, then agree with them, if they are nervous then play it down

My main tip is to keep calm & be positive. Children take their cues from the adults around them & often 'learn' how to feel from them. So, if you are nervous, upset & scared, your child will think that school is something negative & scary & behave accordingly. If you are positive & excited, your child will also pick up on that & show a similar attitude.

My other tip is to give them plenty of food & rest when they are at home! And treat yourself to a coffee & cake with one less DC to share it with

We took dd along before she started to a welcome day and then did a few drive by days so she got used to seeing it. We reassured her that we would be waiting for her at the end of the day also.

I think it is a natural progression from parent and toddler groups to playgroup or nursery to primary school. Nothing to get stresses=d about.