Get organized
Label your child's belongings: every shoe and boot, jacket and sweater, mitt and scarf, school bag and snack pack. Show your child how to recognize his name and to identify his own things.
In the weeks before school teach your child his full name, address and phone number. Other useful information for him to know is the babysitter's name, his mother's and father's first and last names and their places of work. Teach him this information as a game, not as a chore.
The first day
Arrive at the school just a few minutes before starting time. Be certain that the teacher knows your child is there and has greeted her and made her welcome. Then give her a casual kiss goodbye and leave. Even if she cries - and this is the tough part - leave. In most cases those tears will dry by the time you leave the schoolyard.
While you may be tempted to linger or stay for the whole session, don't. You will send the message that you don't trust the teacher, that school might be a dangerous or scary place or that you don't think she can handle this new situation on her own.
After school
Make sure your child is picked up on time; he may get nervous if he is the last one to be picked up.
Since school is now a part of his everyday life, don't make a big fuss about him making it through the day. Spend some quiet time with him and ask questions in a positive way: "What was the best thing that happened in school today?" "What did you like best?"
OK, so you're ready to get your child adjusted to school life. But are you ready? This is a milestone in your child's life and, therefore, it's one in yours, too. Sometimes parents suffer more separation anxiety than their child does. Letting go a little at a time is a fact of parenting. But you'll have more peace of mind when you know your child is prepared for her new life as a student.
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