In my experience, which is quite extensive having been a teacher for 20 years, parents are far more anxious about their child's first day at school than the child themselves. Firstly parents should have researched and selected the appropriate setting for their own child, if parents are comfortable about this choice then the anxiety should be less. As a parent you yourself need to be prepared, make sure you have visited the school and met with the staff. Read through and literature that you are given. Find out the names of the key staff that will be working with your child. Another good idea is to find out about reading schemes etc that the school uses, you can then familiarize your child with these.

Once you are fully prepared you can start to prepare your child. from early infancy a child should be introduced to the idea of school. Ensure that you portray this in a positive manner and certainly do not use it as a threat, for example 'be a big bot/girl, you won't be able to take your (soother, comfort blanket, teddy) to school with you'.

Make sure that your child sees children at school, walk past at break times etc. Play 'schools' with your child, role play is a great way to model how things will be in school, don't forget to let your child to be teacher too. Let them try on their school clothes and take some photographs. Share your old school memories and photographs too. Find out from the school what the routine will be for the first day and talk to your child about this. Role play the first day if necessary. Try to contact parents of other children that will be starting school at the same time and try to establish some friendships.

On the day itself try not to show your anxiety. Make sure you are up in plenty of time, sit down together and eat breakfast, talk about what your child would like to do after school. Give yourself plenty of time to walk to school, take your child in but don't hang around too long. Believe me even a child who appears absolutely distraught within 30 minutes stops crying (they often start again when their parents come to collect them!)

At home time greet your child with a smile, ask them about their day but don't push the issue. Then take them to do whatever it is they asked to do in the morning.

Learn more about this author, Samantha Cross.
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