A Parent's First-Day-of-School Primer
How to Deal With Your Child's First Day of Kindergarten
Jul 31, 2008
The first day of school for a first child can be rough on parents, particularly those stay-at-home parents who have grown accustomed to having kids at home all day.
School districts have a multitude of ways to help your child deal with his first day of school. Regardless of his morning jitters and worries, he’s sure to come home happy, already adjusted and ready to start a new adventure.
Too bad there isn’t such a thing in place for parents. A parent who puts her first-born onto the school bus on the first day of kindergarten must spend the rest of the day wondering how her little one is doing.
There are things you can do, however, to make your child’s first day of school special for you, too.
Plan a Special Day for Your ‘First Day of School’
Admit it. You’ve been waiting for this day for a while. Now that you have a child in school, there are things you can for the first time. Whether it’s spend a leisurely day playing with the baby, going out to lunch by yourself, or pampering yourself,
Spend part of the day pampering yourself with a mom’s at-home spa day, get your hair cut or your nails done, or just relax with a book and a cup of tea on the front porch.
Seek the Advice of Friends and Fellow Parents
Seeing your child go off to school for the first time can be an emotional time for parents. It may help to seek the counsel of those who have been down this road, friends and fellow parents who have survived the first day of kindergarten and who can assure you that
Stay Busy on the First Day of School and Beyond
The first few days of your child’s new school year may seem to drag for parents. Don’t spend the whole day watching the clock and pining away for your little one. Get involved in projects and stay busy. Get started on some of those long put-off projects that you’ve been waiting to do – finish knitting that baby blanket, clean and organize your closets, start scrapbooks for the kids, or organize your photographs into albums.
The National Education Association suggests “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” as the best way to cope with your child going off to school. Parents who are involved in volunteering in their child’s school can make critical contributions to their child’s education. Talk with your child's teacher about opportunities for you to help in the classroom as a parent volunteer.
With some planning and helpful advice from others, you’ll be joining other parents in anticipating the back-to-school excitement in no time.
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