Getting prepared for your little ones to start school

There comes a time, and a time we are all aware of, when the forms go in, the visits are taken to all the local primary schools, and a little 4 year old child is getting very excited.
The results come back and places are allocated. You tell your child about their new school and they are so excited, they might know some of the other children who are going, they are excited about meeting a new teacher, seeing a new building and playing with lots and LOTS of new toys.

But where does that leave you? Suddenly after four years of babes in arms, you are going to give them up 5 days a week to go somewhere where you are not by their side the whole time. You won't be there when they need to go to the toilet, you won't be there when they are eating their lunch or when another child challenges them with sharing rights.

It is so normal to feel panicky, depressed, and suddenly worthless. The first day of term is not just about your little one, but about you too, and unless you want to spend the day sitting outside the gates of the school in tears, you need to reflect on what you have done, and what is still to be done to make this a special moment for everyone.

Firstly, reflect on what you have done to get your child here in the first place, and I don't mean filling in forms and choosing the best school in the area. I mean preparing your child for this day. Something that starts so early, you have taught your child how to eat, how to dress, how to play, how to interact with children and adults. Vital skills they will appreciate on the first day of term.

Secondly, think about how they will act with you when they come home. It's important to remember that at this young age, children won't remember everything they have done, so when you ask them repeatedly what they did at school, who they played with, what they ate etc. they might not have an answer at all, but in their time, little snippets will slip out, but the most important thing is that you are the comfort they come home to after a manic day at school. Just being there puts your child back into their home comforts, the unspoken love of the family home.

Thirdly, do not ever think that your job is done, once you hand over to the teacher. Your job is barely started. Your child's teacher will influence the children during the school day, but you will still continue to teach, influence and provide for your children outside of school hours.

Finally, and very important too, think about having some time to yourself now, whether you work or are at home, it is vital to appreciate yourself and give time to yourself to do things you can't do when little ones are around. Whether that is shopping, concentrating on work, actually drinking a HOT cup of coffee, and being able to listen to your friends talking, rather than running off after a calling child, the list is endless.

So remind yourself, you are not giving up your child to someone else to take over the teaching, you are simply giving yourself some time to be you, and providing your child with fantastic new opportunities and excitement and when the two of you come back together again at the end of the school day, you will have more to share with each other and much more to learn from each other too.