Goodbye summer holidays: How to succeed on the first day of school

Goodbye summer vacation: How to succeed on the first day of school

In most federal states, the summer holidays are almost over. You might still be enjoying the last days of your well-deserved summer vacation, but in the back of your mind, the thoughts and concerns about your child's first day of school are growing louder: How will my child cope at school? Have I invited all family members to the school enrollment celebration? Have I gotten everything my child needs for school? Starting school is a significant event for children because suddenly they are no longer the little and sheltered kindergarten child but must take on many things more independently as a schoolchild and learn a lot new. Parents can do quite a bit at this point to support their children in starting everyday school life, but they should also keep a few things in mind.

Good preparation is key.

If you didn't spend the summer holidays at home, you should first allow enough time for preparation and therefore return from vacation well before the start of school to avoid stress. At the latest, a week before school starts, you should try to "practice" the routine for school. For example, you could start getting up early every day and walk the route to school a few times together, especially if your child will later have to walk or travel to school alone. If there is an opportunity to visit the school before the first day of school — for example, at a summer festival or when picking up older siblings if they attend the same school — you should definitely take advantage of this in good time, as familiarizing oneself with an unfamiliar environment greatly reduces children's excitement and alleviates the fear of the unknown.

In any case, you should also set up an appropriate workspace at home for your child where they can work with concentration. You are welcome to arrange the workspace together, as it is important that your child feels comfortable there and has everything they need for their schoolwork. Also, get a school bag early on. It should be to your child's liking but also sit comfortably on their back. Ideally, choose the school bag together, as this involves your child in the preparation process and also boosts their self-confidence for the start of school.

Strengthen strengths and promote independence

In addition to boosting self-confidence, promoting your child's sense of responsibility and independence also positively impacts their start at school. For example, you can assign your child regular household tasks or let them pick up the bread rolls alone from the bakery on Sundays. This way, they can also practice interacting with other adults, as the way teachers engage with students is often somewhat different from that of childcare professionals in kindergarten. Children also need to express what they want more independently at school, for example, by raising their hand or independently approaching the teacher.

As parents, you should also encourage your child's strengths and avoid turning their skills into a competitive performance. Your child should be able to discover on their own what they are good at and what they might not be as good at. Always be attentive and support your child in using their strengths, as this creates positive motivation that helps them adapt better to the new environment with unfamiliar people. Be understanding and forgiving if your child doesn't manage everything right away, as the transition to school represents a significant change.

Take it easy.

Of course, the joy is great because your own child only starts school once in their life, and that should be celebrated. However, despite all the anticipation, try not to go overboard with the number of guests and the scale of the celebration, as you might otherwise create unnecessary pressure and potentially overwhelm your child. Always have a sympathetic ear for your child's concerns and thoughts, and regularly check on how they're feeling. Also, show confidence in your child that they will manage the start of school well, and share their excitement for this new, exciting stage of life. Be optimistic and don't worry too much about potential problems, as these can be calmly discussed at the appropriate time.

In general, the topic of school should always be discussed as positively as possible, especially before the first day of school, as otherwise your child's nervousness may increase—and the closer the first day of school gets, the more excited your child is likely to be. It is also important that you maintain a regular daily routine from the first day of school and do not forget family life alongside school. Try to do something together regularly to create a balance to the school routine, so you and your child can relax together and recharge.

by Esther Marake

FamPLUS - Competent in Everyday Family Life.