• Handle your own emotions. Anxiety is contagious – parent anxiety can be transmitted to children. The first step is to be self-aware, deal with your own anxiety and work out why you’re feeling a certain way.

• Be authentic. Children are surprisingly perceptive. They have antennae that tune in to parent behaviour so you need to be genuine.

• Keep talking. Talking through your child’s fears and asking them what’s worrying them can help alleviate their anxiety.

• Look to the future. Discussing your child’s first day and what will happen creates predictability about what will occur, reduces anticipatory stress, and helps them mentally prepare for change.

• Make the journey to school a familiar one. Avoid first day surprises and set up a trial journey if practicable.

• Prepare your child’s school clothes, school bag and lunch box. (Ms. Martin's tip: do this the night before!) Doing this together can help boost excitement.

• Get ready without fuss or rush. Emotions will be already be high so avoid a before school meltdown by allowing extra time.

• Save the tears, be they of joy or distress, for the car as you drive away.

• Share with other parents left behind at the school gate. They may be feeling just the same as you.

• Turn on some happy music and be proud that you’ve got your little one this far!

 

https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/how-to-cope-with-your-child-s-first-day-at-school