It's hard for us as parents to see our little ones grow up, especially when they are old enough to go to school. You may be wondering where has the time gone or how will my daughter or son's first day of school go. The first day of school, no matter what age your child is, can be either an exciting or scary moment for both you and your child.
Ways to Make the First Day a Success
There are several things that you and your child can do to make the first day of school go well. Listed below are some words of wisdom to help achieve this:
- Attend Open House at your child's school prior to the first day of school (if applicable)
- If there's not an Open House, visit your child's school to find his or her classroom and other important rooms
- Make an appointment to meet with your child's teacher prior to school starting (especially if your child has special needs and/or accommodations)
- Pack the backpack the night before and make sure to label everything
- If possible, take school supplies to your child's classroom to put away prior to the first day of school (many schools do this during Open House)
- Have your child choose an outfit for the first day of school the night before
- If your child will be taking a cold lunch, pack the lunch the night before
- Place your camera in a safe spot, but easily accessible (you may want to take pictures of that first important day)
- For children attending an elementary, either write down the teacher's name down, his or her name, and bus number (if applicable) on a piece of paper
- If your child is attending a secondary school (i.e. middle school/junior high/high school), make sure that they have an extra copy of his or her class schedule with locker combination
- Practice opening a locker if it has a locker combination or padlock on it (applicable to students at secondary level)
- Make sure your child know what to do before and after school (i.e. which bus to ride, if you are picking up when and where you will meet your son or daughter, where to go for before and after school program)
No matter what age your child is, the first day of school can be exciting or a little scary. If you and your child take the time to prepare for this big day, things will go well.
