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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Working in KS1 at a primary school, I would definitely say parents pass on their own stresses and anxities, so I would absolutely say relax and let the children get on with it!

Try not to make it a big deal but answer any questions your little one may have honestly, remind them that it'll be fun and they'll make lots of new friends

We tried hard not to build it up too much. We also found that reading books/ watching cbeebies programmes about starting school helped him understand more about it, and see that it wasn't too scary.

Always make sure mum/dad drop them off and be there to pick them up.

I agree that the best advice is to chill out about it. Our eldest had been in nursery for 3 years so routine was normal for her. We arranged a couple of playdates before school started and made her favourite tea.

I have made sure my son was relaxed, he has been eating all his favourite meals, getting plenty of sleep, we chose comfortable, smart uniforms that gave him a feeling of excitement, he picked all his own stationary and bag. Every week he's been choosing his lunch bits and we make sure every morning we're up with plenty of time to get there on time.

My tip is give them some space. It's tempting to ask a hundred questions about their day, but they are tired and often don't want to talk. Let them play quietly or do what they want after school.

Keep it low key and positive and allow for your child to be tired after school for a good couple of weeks. My son is in year one, and does after school clubs so always like
one day at the weekend to have a more laidback lazy day.

There are also some great fiction books about schools that can be good to read in the weeks leading up to school starting.

Play games of School with dolls and explain what is going to happen when they get to school. Make it sound a really good experience

My little boy just started school and during the holidays we enjoyed some role play activities such as playing "school dinners" with his teddies, "assemblies " etc too. I try to keep mornings calm and get all the uniform prepped the night before.

I think the parents are more nervous than the child, when you take them In the morning reassure them that you will be there to collect them, then when you collect them let them tell you for the next 5 hours everything they had done on that day

Enjoy books together about school, talk to your child about older children they might know who already go to school. Emphasise the fun side - lots of new toys and games to play with. Explain the routines of pick up / if someone different picks them up make sure they know. Be prepared for tiredness and some upsets along the way.

Ds was fine starting school, dc2 was not fine when her brother started. Give consideration to a younger sibling when suddenly older sibling starts going out 5 days a week to school. Dc2 needed careful routine and lots of meeting friends to provide support.

Starting school can be really emotional, especially with your first child, but you have to keep it under control. We were relentlessly brisk and cheerful, especially at that moment when you actually say goodbye and leave. We saw so many kids (and parents) having mini-breakdowns and always took the view that if the parents were clingy and emotional then the kids would be too. You can't expect your child to feel safe and relaxed if they get a strong vibe of drama and anxiety from you.

Prepare as much as possible the night before, I do lunchboxes and store them in the fridge, I organise book bags the night before and lay uniform out either on the end of the bed or on a chair in the bedroom, and that makes for a much less stressful morning, When my third child started in reception I had the alphabet written on individual squares of paper like they do at school and this really helped with the reading and writing tasks for homework, Also if you have a timetable pop it on the fridge so you can see quickly whats happening when

Expect the unexpected. Some days they will bounce throught the doors and others they will cling to your shoes on the way out. But know that 9/10 the tears will stop moments after you leave

Add school into conversations, stay positive be excited it’s a big mile stone but it’s also exciting. Stay strong it will all be fine.

Teach them to be themselves and not follow others:

We talked lots about school and read a book about starting school to help with nerves

Start talking about it well ahead of time.
Expect tiredness and moodiness.
Talk to them about anything thats concerned them.

Talk to them about it but do not make it a big deal. parents are more nervous than children so try not to show your worry.

The only thing we had to do in this house is creating routine for DD. We’re on our second week right now and she knows that after hair is done, she needs to put on her shoes and other small things like that.
I also ask for her input about lunch box, so she’s actually waiting to go to school and eat her lunch

I think DH and I had to adjust our thinking more than DD. She was clearly ready.

When my son got upset he would need his special blanky. It was too big to be sent in to school and I did not want to embarrass him in front of his peers so I cut off the corner of special blanky and sewed it into his coat pocket. That way if he got upset he could out his hand into coat pocket and reef reassured.

Here are a few simple steps you can take along the road to a great new year!

Visit the school or classroom before the first day. Some teachers invite families to visit ahead of time. If not, take a trip to the school to see the building and the playground. You might also consider inviting the teacher to come to your house.
Read good books about starting school. Literature is a great way to prompt a discussion about going off to school — check out these 11 books to ease back-to-school jitters.
Talk to your child about his feelings about school, friends, teachers, and new activities. (Psst: This book will help ease separation anxiety!)
Practice, practice, practice! Learning how to get ready each morning for the trip to school takes time and practice. It's helpful to practice this before the actual first day. Pretend it's a school day, and go through the steps of getting up, dressed, fed, and out the door. Try this printable chart to help your child remember all she needs to do.
Rehearse self-help skills such as dressing, undressing, and hand-washing. Your child will feel more confident when she's asked to do these things at school.
Make a portable family album. You can't stay with your child all year, but your photos can! The process of making a photo album together is a bonding and comforting project. Use a small, soft plastic album (available at most dollar stores) that can be easily washed, carried, and kissed!
Ask your child what kind of snack she wants to bring. Shop together for the ingredients and engage her in the making and packing of the snack.
Go school shopping. Back-to-school clothes and items are popular with little kids as well as big. It's not too early to start the ritual of shopping for special school outfits or a backpack. It doesn't have to be something expensive. Even a "new-to-you" item will have meaning when it is designated especially for back to school.

Try not to make a big fuss. I have 3 boys in school now and the more relaxed I am the easier it is for them. I see so many new parents making such a fuss about leaving them and then the poor kids get upset and everyone is crying when really if you make it sound like they will have a great day and lots of fun and make new friends they will be just fine.