The very first day of school of your kid, the very first day of the first year of school, may seem very VERY important to you and to your kid, depending on his/her character.

Anyway, that first day should be well prepared so the child will not feel lost or abandoned.

Here, in Switzerland, we have the possibility to go and meet the teacher a week before the school starts. We can go with our kid into the school, visit the class, play a game or so in what will be his/her classroom, and he/she will have the chance to meet the teacher, have a long look at him or her and start to get used to.

I think it is a good way to get your child ready for the first day of school.

But it can be not enough.

Days before school starts, maybe even weeks before, you have to explain to your kid what is going to happen and how you think it will be. Tell your child what you do remember from your days of school, how you did feel in school, and how you made friends. (if your story is not really fun or interesting you can invent a little so it will seem interesting to your kid).

The most important thing in all that is to show to your child that even if you will be a little bit sad because he/she will not stay at home with you, you are very willing and happy that he/she starts school. Explain how it is important in a life to go to school, to learn lot of different things and meet some other kids.

If it is your first kid first day of school, it may be harder for you than for her/him. It may seem hard to live his child away from home a long day, a whole day, ... Here, kids come back home for lunch and it is fun to see how they feel happy to explain what the teacher said. Teacher's word is like God's word....

And, finally, to begin this first day of school the best way, the night before should be a good night of sleep for your kid. Depending on your kid's habits to wake up, make sure he/she will have enough time to have a good breakfast and some time to play a little before going to school. Don't be late. Try no to have to run to be on time. For the first day, everything should happen quietly. If you can go into the class with your kid and if you do feel he/she, or maybe yourself, need that moment, don't hesitate, do it. But you have to show your kid that you know what you are doing, don't show any hesitation it may bring him to cry and, sometimes, it is hard to handle in front of other kids.

And last but not least, enjoy that day, enjoy the fact that you will have some hours for yourself...

have a nice day

Learn more about this author, Nathalie Correia.
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