5 Tips to get your child ready for the first day of school

How do you get your child ready for her first day of school? Parents, I know it’s tough. But with the right guidance, I assure you that your preschooler will end up loving the new environment. It all begins with proper assessment of the situation. Here are 5 of the most important tips you might want to check out to make sure your little girls is all set for her first day of school.

1. Prepare her schedule ahead of time

Since this is the first time your little one has to wake up in the morning, it’s a good idea to prepare her schedule ahead of time. Start in the middle of August. Guide her to go to bed earlier, and try to wake up earlier too.

It’s not going to be easy at first, since your daughter is probably used to sleeping until she's ready to wake up. Don’t set an alarm clock at first. Instead, try preparing some morning activities so that she'll want to get going. Go biking or take her with you to the farmer’s market, or just on a morning walk.

2. Wake your daughter up with a delicious breakfast

A delicious breakfast can also start the day off well. Talk about preparing great food first thing in the morning. You could cook something together, like pancakes, eggs, fruit salads, shakes; whatever she can help make. Allowing her to participate in the process can be a strong motivator. Talk about the plan to wake up earlier before she goes to bed the night before. 

3. Prepare your daughter for the psychological change

Kids are used to a particular type of environment. They already know the place, they’ve made friends, and are used to the activities. Throughout the summer, your daughter may probably be terrified that she won’t be returning to the routine she’s used to.

As a parent, you can prepare her for the change. Have answers for some common questions she might have: “What if the teacher doesn’t like me?”, “What if I the kids are mean to me?”, “What if I get lost?”. Talk to her calmly, and give her concrete ideas that help her take actions to handle her emotions.

4. Give her a confidence boost

Praising your daughter for a skill will help build self-confidence; then she may be more willing to share her talents in front of others. Encourage her to be herself, and talk about the importance of being kind to others.

5. Talk about being independent

Your daughter may not want to go to school alone on her first day. And that’s ok. But it’s important to talk to her about the importance of being independent. Start in August, and go places together. Show her the school, and get her familiarized with the environment.

The first day at a new school can be scary, both for you and for your daughter. But just think of it as a normal part of growing up. The time is right for you to let her go, and if she's really worried about the academic work, a private tutor session might help. It may be easier for her to accept a new environment and wait impatiently for school to start.

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Jason Phillips is a blogger who writes on education. He also writes for smiletutor, a provider of home tuition in Singapore. Jason has recently become a grandfather and he loves to play with his grandson in his leisure time.