Preparing a child for his or her first day at school is a long job. Ideally you should be thinking about it for a year or so before the actual day, if not from birth! Follow these tips for a pain-free first day.

Get your child used to being away from you. Even if you are a stay-at-home Mom with no need for childcare your child will really benefit from attending some kind of part-time day care before school starts. A structured group setting with a "school" type feel to it will be most beneficial.

Help develop social skills. Get involved in as many activities as you can. Find out what pre-school programs your local community center, recreation center or library runs. Even if you are there with your child she will be developing social skills and becoming slowly more independent. She may also meet some of her future school mates.

Talk school up. Try to present school in a really positive light. Talk about how lucky she will be when she is a big girl and can go to school. If she has older siblings try to make sure they are positive about school when they are around her.

Role play. Play at schools at home. Pretend to be the teacher or get older siblings or friends to "teach" a class. Your child can even play school with her stuffed animals and dolls. Make it a really fun activity but also use it to teach her what will be expected of her in the classroom. Reading stories about school can be really helpful too.

Cultivate friendships. If you know other kids who will be in your child's class, encourage those friendships. Have the kids round for play dates and encourage play that will help your child develop the friendship independent of you and the other parent.

Encourage independence/autonomy. Even little things like being able to button her own coat and tie her shoe laces will help a child feel much more confident on her first day at school.

Take advantage of any activities the school offers. If your school has any kind of open day or meet and greet make the effort to go along. Your child can meet the teacher and other kids and start to learn her way round. Point out things she'll need to know like where she can hang her coat and where the restrooms are. Knowledge of her surroundings will really help her relax.

Finally, on the day itself, get prepared, leave plenty of time, stay calm and remember to say goodbye brightly but firmly. Then go home, make a strong coffee and have a good cry - it's all part of the ritual.

Learn more about this author, Karen Banes.
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