Overcoming First Day Fears At Primary School

Your child's first day at primary school is a big step for him/her. However, there are plenty of practical things that you can do to prepare them, such as talking to your child about school and helping them to develop their practical skills. For many, it may be the first time the parent and child may separate without contact with each other for a few hours. This will add anxiety to yourself as well and it is natural.

Preparing yourself for the child's first day of school

If this is your first child there may be a bit of anxiety on your child being away from you. Don't worry you are not alone. It is natural that parent's feel that way. However, it is essential for you to understand that it is an important step in your child's life towards living independently and trying to figure out and learn various things on their own.

Please visit the school at least a couple of times before the school starts to get familiarized with the school's facilities, safety features, routines and other things. At Matriarch we will conduct induction classes for first time parents (others are welcome on prior request), every year a week before the school actually starts. This is an effort to ensure that your child is in safe hands and will be taken care of by every one in Matriarch.

The induction to parents will help you to know about:

	Meet with the Management of the school
	The teachers for your child. Each parent will get individual opportunities to meet up with the class teachers of your child
	A tour of the school, its infrastructure, safety measurements, facilities etc.
	A detailed list of activities your child will go through in the school
	A detailed list of items that you should send along with your child
	A list of things the child should be able to do on their own like eating their snacks, lunch etc., and using the toilet etc. Don't worry if they do not know with your help we can get them very quickly. Children learn in no time.
	A question and answer session with the class teachers and the head of the school
	The rules and regulations of the school for parents/guardians
	The rules and regulations of the school for teachers
	The rules and regulations of the school for administrative staff
	The rules and regulations of the school for students
	The rules and regulations of the school for visitors/guests
	A list of WHO-IS-WHO to be able to contact for various reasons
	A list of holidays
	Any other relevant information as required to ensure comfort of parents

Preparing your child for their first day of school

It is a unique experience for your child for sure, and there would be a lot of anxiety in your child. It is important that parents give them enough encouragement and enough information about the school at least a month before the school starts.

To ease this anxiety out, and to make sure that the first day of their learning experience in their life is a very pleasant and memorable one, we at Matriarch will have the first day a fun filled day for your child. So please take time to explain that the child is going to enjoy the school, just like they may enjoy the zoo or the park.

Various things that you can do is listed below

Talk to your Child

Your child may be anxious about what to expect on the first day at school. If so, one way of helping them is to talk through their fears:

	Explain where they'll be going, what they'll be doing, and for how long
	Answer questions, and iron out any fears by asking what they think the school might be like
	Emphasis the things they may enjoy doing
	Explain the list of activities that they may be doing on their first day in school(which will be given during the induction to parents)

Don't dismiss your child's fears - things that are obvious or silly to grown-ups can seem like terrible obstacles to a three or five year old.

Building On Practical Skills

If children have a good idea of what school is going to be like and have already experienced learning activities at home and in other settings, they're less likely to find the experience stressful.

Games, role-plays and reading at home can help your child get into the right frame of mind and boost their confidence.

Activities for your child could include:

	Playing games that involve taking turns or speaking in front of a group
	Playing with children of a similar age to develop social skills
	Reading books about starting school
	Using your child's favorite toys to role-playing going to school
	Painting and drawing, which involve sitting down for short periods of time

In The Weeks Before School Starts

In the run-up to the first day of school you could:

	Involve your child in choosing things they need for school such as school bags or uniforms
	Visit the school with your child to give them a chance to see what goes on
	Establish a routine and discuss what might be happening at school at different times of a day

After The First Day

If your child has been to a nursery or reception class, they may have had some preparation for primary school and so their transition into primary school may be quiet smooth. However, they might still find their initial weeks a period of change and stress.

Your child may be tired than usual and need time to relax. You may find that rather than becoming "Grown Up", they may regress or become more difficult or defiant, in response to the stress of a new routine.

Your child could also have concerns about making friends or be more withdrawn than usual.

Your support will help

You can help support your child in their first weeks in primary school by establishing regular routines at home, showing that you value their progress, and encouraging them to take pride in their work.

What Can You Do?

In order to provide support or help your child through what can sometimes be a difficult first phase, it may help to:

	Set aside time with your child to talk about school and take an interest in what they have been doing
	Listen carefully to any worries your child might have
	Find out as much as possible about your child's school and what happens there during the day
	Try to keep a regular routine at home to keep stress to a minimum
	Make sure your child knows what is happening on a day-to-day basis and is informed in advance about any changes to their routine
	Encourage your child to build relationships with children in their class
	Keep positive as some problems may be resolved as your child adapts to a new way of life

If you find that you cannot sort out any problems your child has by talking to them, you may find it useful to talk to your child's teacher about any concerns you have.