Parenting expert Judy Reith has some expert tips if your child is going to infant school for the first time.
Your child might have taken nursery or those first days with a child minder in their stride. But now they’re slightly older and are going to start infant school or being going to school for a full day for the first time. We asked parenting coach Judy Reith for some tips on preparing them for being away from home for the whole day.
“It's really important that you understand from the school what to expect on a typical day, so that you can explain it to your child,” says Judy. ”Think of all the detailed questions you might want to know, such as what happens if they need to go to the toilet? Where do they put their shoes? Tiny things like that can make the difference between your child feeling like they are having a happy day or a disastrous day. Come up with a few scenarios so that you can do some planning around difficult situations. And do a dummy run — go and look at the playground and just generally talk about it in an upbeat and positive way over the school holidays.”
Do your prep
“The other important thing is to get all the practical stuff completely sorted out beforehand — or you really are asking for more stress! Make a list of all the things they need to take, get their school tags on, etc. Give it to Granny to do if she offers to help. You know what's coming, so don't go to the shoe shop the day before, when everything is sold out. Then if your child is feeling a bit wobbly, you are not adding to the stress by having a last minute panic.
Play it cool
“And, again, your own attitude is absolutely crucial,” says Judy. “If you are standing there looking anxious and talking above your child's head — saying to another mother 'Oh, he was so nervous this morning about coming to school,' etc — know that the 'he' in question is soaking up every single word. Be relaxed and friendly, and also make an approach yourself! If you're quivering by the school gates and not talking to anyone, then that will be picked up on by your child, too.”
For more advice from Judy, visit Parenting People for more information.
