The anticipation of the first day of school can be a lot to handle. It’s sad to see summer go and to know that the coming school year is full of unknowns. It can be exciting but also a bit unsettling for both the kids and the parents. My kids will be entering first and third grade and despite being bummed that they will no longer be running around all day at summer camp, they are luckily also pretty excited for the year ahead. It brings me back to this time last year when we were approaching my daughter’s first day of kindergarten. I remember being surprised that, for both of my kids, it was more of a transition than I expected.
If you have a little one starting Kindergarten, here are five tips that could help that first day go smoothly:
Make sure they are well rested. I have always worked full time so my kids have always been in either all day daycare or preschool. Yet the first day of kindergarten, both my kids were exhausted! They still had rest time similar to preschool but there is more structure to kindergarten which can be a bit overwhelming. I know this seems like an obvious tip but I think it’s critical to ensure they get a solid night’s sleep.
Hug and kiss and go. Do not prolong the goodbye. I know this is hard. But I also know that you will make it worse for yourself, your kid and the teacher if you are one of those moms allowing your kid to cling to you or peering in through the window. Don’t let them think they need to be coddled in the classroom. They will be fine.
Be prepared in case you cry. On my daughter’s first day of kindergarten, I recall being so proud of myself for not clinging onto her as I dropped her off. She was ready, I was ready and it was all going to be ok. That is, until I got in my car to drive to work and suddenly started crying. Clearly I had been pushing down some emotions that morning in an effort to be strong and confident for her. If you cry, try to take my lead and do it in the privacy of your car versus in the kindergarten classroom.
Be thoughtful when packing lunch/snacks. Don’t worry, I am all about things like Pizza Fridays and Chick-Fil-A Wednesdays. However, on that first day or maybe that first week, I think it’s wise to take extra time to ensure you pack things that promote energy versus a sugar rush then crash. Their little bodies and brains will be dealing with a lot so try to ensure protein is in their snacks and lunch. My kids love protein drinks so that’s an easy one for me to stick in their lunches knowing they will actually ingest it. Whereas, if I pack a hardboiled egg for my son or a turkey sandwich for my daughter, I am only fooling myself in thinking they will eat it. Know what kinds of healthy (ish) food your kid will actually eat. And it never hurts to stick a note from mom in there too. Unless they are at the age where they are too cool for that in which case a note could be a giant mistake.
Don’t interrogate them. My son’s first week of kindergarten was full of frustration for me. Until I realized the problem. It was me. The second he got in the car I started asking him questions about his day. I finally realized that my introverted little boy simply needed time to decompress. Without words. Without being interrogated by mom. His acting out and giving me attitude was simply because he had been “on” all day at school and now needed some time to be “off”. My extroverted daughter, on the other hand, is all about telling me every single detail of her day. Try to learn what your kid needs so that you don’t both end up frustrated when the answer could be very simple.
What are some tips you have to help with the first day of school? We’d love to hear!
Related:
Summer Birthdays: Send Them to Kindergarten or Wait Another Year?
The Kindergarten Transition: Tougher Than You Think
Some Kids Take Awhile to Transition
Your Child Can Pack Their Own Lunch (Yes, Even Your Kindergartener)
Ten Non-Sandwich Lunch Ideas for Kids
Read more of Stephanie’s contributions to allmomdoes here.
