Starting school is a huge milestone for both parents and kids. As a parent, I was anxious about sending my little one, Hitarth, to school for the first time. It’s an emotional time when we have to let go and watch our children begin a new journey, even if it’s just for a few hours a day.
On the very first day of school, we were at the reception while Hitarth was inside the classroom. He came to check on us twice, making sure we were still there. The next day, I found myself tearing up as we left him at school. I sent a message to a moms’ group on WhatsApp, sharing my anxiety. To my relief, I received many replies from other moms who had gone through the same experience and reassured me that the phase would pass.
I didn’t know then that my anxiety would soon turn to happiness because Hitarth settled in much quicker than expected, almost within a week. Seeing him thrive in a new environment filled me with pride and joy, and I realized that every new experience for our children is an opportunity for growth.
While it’s natural to feel anxious and emotional when our little ones start a new chapter, we can find solace in knowing that we’re not alone. It’s important to reach out to other parents and support each other through this transition. In the end, we can take comfort in watching our children learn, grow, and thrive in their new school environment.
Tips To Encourage Your Kids For Their First School
Starting preschool can be a big adjustment for both parents and children. As a parent, you want to do everything you can to help your child feel comfortable and confident in their new environment. In this post, I will be sharing some tips and strategies that I followed to help my son, Hitarth, settle into preschool and even after changing school (a different school from the previous one).
Keep Talking About School
About 10 days before Hitarth started school, I started talking to him about it. I explained that he would be going to a school where he would play, learn, and eat with other kids. I also told him about the activities and toys that he would have access to. Although I wasn’t sure if he was listening, it was evident on the first day that he had heard and understood me. And then, on the first day, he was already excited to go to school.
Talking to your child about school beforehand can help them prepare for the new environment and alleviate any anxieties they may have. So keep talking about the school, the teachers, the kids & the activities; to prepare them beforehand.
Tell Them; Teachers Love Them
On the second day of school, he found a loving teacher named ‘Kulsum’ who welcomed him with open arms and comforted him while he was crying & requesting us not to leave him at school. We were worried and anxious about how he would cope, but thankfully, his Mam was so loving towards Hitarth & we could see the affection she had for our son.
We were relieved to see her genuine care and affection for Hitarth, and when he came back from school, we kept talking about her with him. We told him that Kulsum Ma’am loved him and that all the teachers at school loved him just as much as we did. He somehow understood and felt that love, and from the next day onwards, he was all set to go to his beloved Kulsum Ma’am.
We are grateful to Kulsum Ma’am for being such a loving and caring teacher. Her warmth and affection made a huge difference in Hitarth’s school experience and strengthened his foundation. She played a crucial role in helping him settle into school, and we will always be thankful to her for that.
A loving and caring teacher can make all the difference in your child’s school experience. Their warmth and affection can help children feel secure and confident in their new environment. As parents, it’s important to look for teachers who have a genuine love for children and who are willing to go the extra mile to ensure their students feel comfortable and happy at school.
Let Them Select Their School Dress
When Hitarth started preschool, there was no school uniform, so I took his help in deciding what he wanted to wear for the day. It was a small decision, but it made a big difference. He got excited knowing he would get to decide for himself, and it gave him a sense of ownership and control over his day.
Hitarth loved having a say in what he wore, and he would suggest which shirt and jeans he wanted to wear for school. It was a simple routine that we continued even when he moved to a new school with a uniform.
Giving your child the opportunity to choose their school dress is a small but meaningful way to foster their independence and decision-making skills. It can help them feel more confident and in control of their day, which can have a positive impact on their overall school experience. As parents, it’s important to find simple yet effective ways to encourage our children’s independence, and letting them choose their school dress is just one example of how we can do so.
Take Help in Deciding the Lunch
As parents, we want to ensure our children are eating healthy foods, but it’s also important to encourage their independence and decision-making skills. Allowing them to choose their lunch can be a great way to do so.
Every day, I ask Hitarth what he wants in his lunch. He tells me his preference, and I prepare it for him. If the choice is among the menu options, I make it, and if not, I ask him to choose something else from the options I provide.
By involving him in the decision-making process, Hitarth has become more aware of his food choices and has developed a love for healthy foods. He knows what he likes and what is good for him, and he’s excited to make his own choices. It has also helped him become more independent and confident in his decision-making skills.
As parents, our role is to present healthy food options and let our children decide which ones to eat. By giving them some freedom in choosing their lunch, we are encouraging their independence and fostering their decision-making skills.
This Worked Wonders – Tell them to Love Other Kids
Hitarth has always had a soft spot for other kids, no matter their age. He loves to pamper and care for them, and strangers have often commented on his affection for other babies. So, we decided to use his love for other kids as a tool to encourage empathy and kindness towards others.
On the third or fourth day of school, we told Hitarth to love and care for other kids and not let them cry for their parents. We encouraged him to say, ”Baby, your Mumma is here, don’t cry; your Mumma will come soon” if any child or baby was upset. And he did exactly that.
We were thrilled to hear from his teacher that Hitarth was showing empathy and kindness towards his peers, just as we had encouraged him to do. Even in his new school, his teacher praised him for being kind and nurturing towards younger kids.
Teaching our children to love and care for others is an essential part of raising empathetic and compassionate individuals. By taking advantage of our son’s love for other kids, we were able to encourage empathy and kindness towards others, which will benefit him and his friends for years to come.
Editing the article today; after a year of his first day at school. Today also we got to hear from his teachers at PTM that Hitarth is still very caring and compassionate towards everyone, including babies, kids, and even elders at school.
The Power of Visualization: How It Helped My Child Settle in School
Here I will be sharing a personal experience of how the power of visualization helped my son, Hitarth, settle in school and how it can help your child too.
When Hitarth started preschool, like any parent, I was anxious about how he would adjust to the new routine. I wanted him to feel comfortable and settled as soon as possible. That’s when I started visualizing him succeeding and getting comfortable in his new environment.
Every day, I would close my eyes and visualize Hitarth happy and settled in school. I would imagine him making new friends, playing with toys, and enjoying his time at school. I even wrote affirmations and placed them around the house, reminding myself of Hitarth’s success and happiness.
And you know what? It worked! Within a week of starting school, Hitarth had settled in, made new friends, and was enjoying his time at school. He even looked forward to going to school every day.
I truly believe that the power of visualization helped Hitarth settle in school. By focusing on positive outcomes and visualizing success, I was able to manifest Hitarth’s happiness and success in school.
The power of visualization is a powerful tool that can help your child succeed in school and beyond. By visualizing positive outcomes and focusing on success, you can help manifest your child’s happiness and success in any situation. So the next time your child faces a challenge or significant milestone, try visualizing their success, and see how it can make a positive impact on their life.
Want To Know More??
As parents, sending our child to school for the first time can be an emotional and nerve-wracking experience. In this post, I have shared some personal tips that have helped me and my son, Hitarth, transition to the school routine. I hope that these tips can also help you as you embark on this new journey with your child.
It has been more than 10 months since Hitarth started preschool, and looking back, there are a few tips that helped us transition smoothly into the school routine. These tips include:
- Keep talking about school – talking about the school, teachers, kids, and activities beforehand can prepare your child for what’s to come.
- Encourage empathy and kindness – teaching your child to be kind and caring towards others, no matter their age, can help them settle in and make friends at school.
- Let them choose their lunch – allowing your child to choose their lunch can encourage healthy eating habits and foster their independence.
- Let them select their school dress – letting your child select their school dress can help them feel more in control and excited about going to school.
- Visualize success – visualizing your child succeeding at a task or behavior and providing the support and encouragement they need can help them achieve success.
Conclusion
Sending your child to school for the first time can be emotional and overwhelming, but by following these tips, you can help ease the transition and make it a positive experience for both you and your child. Remember to take things one day at a time, focus on being present in the moment, and don’t be afraid to reach out to other parents or teachers for support. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram. Good luck on this new journey with your child!
