First Day Of School

Tips for the first day of School

The first day of school can be both exciting and upsetting. There are several ways you can assist your child with what might be his first experience away from you and the security of your home.

We suggest taking your child to visit the center prior to the first day of attendance. For some children, going to school is a happy and uneventful break from family or caregivers. For other children the experience is both difficult and frightening. Until that first morning and for the first few days, there is no way to be absolutely sure of how a child will react.

Preparing a child:

• Take him to meet his teacher and to see his room beforehand.
  
• Let the child take something special from home and introduce it to the teacher.
  
• Demonstrate your confidence in the teacher.
  
• Tell the child when you are leaving. Kiss him goodbye, and don't prolong it. Tell him when you will be back and be there on time !
  
• Compliment the child afterward on how well he did, and show your enthusiasm and acceptance by listening to the account of his day.
  
• As he begins to succeed, let him know how proud you are!
  

Many children adjust nicely at first but then show signs of regression at home. These regressions demonstrate the kind of energy a child is mustering to meet his new challenge. Going off to school is a child's first and most important opportunity to learn about adjusting to the outside world. He will be able to learn to participate as part of a group, to read social clues, to conform to grown-up expectancies and rules, and to develop his own style for making and keeping friends.

Remember: "What the child learns about handling himself in a group and about embracing new situations will last him forever"!