As a parent it’s a moment you either dread or look forward to with elation. You’ve known this day would come, but are you ready? What if you’ve forgotten something? What if your child isn’t ready? No, we aren’t talking about sending your precious baby off to college, we are talking Kindergarten, where the halls are long, the kids are big, and the snacks are abundant. For many parents, whether it is their first child going off to kindergarten or their last, the first day of school can be a mixture of excitement and nerves, not just for the new “big kid” in the family, but for you as well. Even if you and your child are used to a routine of day care or preschool, this is a whole new ballgame. We’ve compiled a few tips to help you survive the first day of your year as a kindergarten parent.
It’s OK to be sad
If you are more of the “OMG my baby is leaving me for the big bad world of Kindergarten,” rather than the “YES! FINALLY!!” parent, that is ok. It is hard to think that your baby is ready to leave the nest, but remember, you’ve prepared for this day. All the potty-training and bedtime stories have been in preparation for spreading their wings and heading out to absorb all the wonders that the world has to offer.
It’s OK to be happy
No, you aren’t a bad parent if you are excited that your little one will be in school for 6 hours each day and you will finally be able to go to run errands without stopping at every public bathroom on the way. No, you aren’t a bad parent if you are excited that you just got a “raise” in salary because the cost of all-day childcare just dropped to before and/or after school only. You are allowed to be excited that your child is starting this new adventure.
Visit the school as much as possible
Most schools in our area hold events over the summer for incoming Kindergarteners and their families and meet-the -teacher days. If possible, attend as many of these as you can. It will help ease any first day nerves if they are walking into a place that is familiar. Meet-the-teacher and talk about all the fun they are going to have leading up to the first day. Again, putting a name to a face will help make everything more familiar and comfortable. Even just driving by and checking out the playground can help ease some first day jitters.
Adjust to a new routine before the first day
Let’s face it, getting a child up, dressed and out the door in the morning isn’t the highlight of parenthood. Multiply that by first day nerves, and you have the potential for breakdowns…for you and your child! Ward off any would-be tantrums by practicing your bedtime and wakeup routines ahead of time. Starting a week before school starts consider setting an earlier bedtime and a set time to wake up. This will help lessen the shock of routines after a summertime full of late nights and sleepy mornings. Save yourself time by picking clothes out the night before and packing lunches for the next day.
Take ALL the pictures
Charge up your phone or get your camera ready and take all the pictures…Eating breakfast on the first day of school, picture on the front steps, picture at the bus stop or at carpool. Take them all. Remember, one day they won’t be as cooperative when asked to smile for the camera.
Prepare for drop-off ahead of time
There are two schools of thought when it comes to drop-off. There is the “Drop, Hug, and Run” method, where you walk your child to the classroom, or put them on the bus, hug them, then run…literally if necessary. Many parents believe this “rip the band-aid off” method helps by not prolonging the goodbye and allowing the child and their teacher to form a bond right from the beginning. It is a guarantee that if your child gets upset he or she will not be the first child in history to cry on the first day of school, nor is it likely they will be the only one. The teachers know this is going to happen and are prepared. In fact, many Kindergarten classrooms will have a few extra teachers on hand for any extra hugs that may be necessary.
Then there is the “Stay, Sooth, Hug, and Softly Back Away” method. In this scenario you walk your child to their classroom, get them situated, wipe away any tears (yours or theirs), hug and reassure them, then slowly back out of the class. This is the method that your heart will be telling you is best, and only you can know for sure. If you have a child that is visibly upset and you can’t stand the idea of leaving them without knowing if they are ok, consider walking around the corner to another hallway for a little while, just until you are comfortable that they are calming down. Regardless of how you plan on dropping your little one off for the first day, try to have a plan ahead of time. If you have a plan of action for those first few minutes, you can focus on telling your new Kindergartener how much you love them and how excited you are for them to start a new adventure!
