How to Ease Anxiety for the First Day of School

Is your child up late tossing and turning before the first day of school? Don’t worry, it won’t be that bad! Just tell your child to keep their head up and follow these 6 simple tips to make the first day great!

1.Visit the school or attend the open house before the first day of school 

One thing that really helps to decrease the first day of school jitters is to visit the school and meet the teachers before the first day if possible.  Many schools schedule open house nights where you and your family can meet the teachers, pick up your schedule, and tour the school to get a feel of where all of your child’s classes will be.  This is sort of a “trial run” for the real first day of school.  So be sure to attend the open house if your school offers it.  It’ll help keep your child from getting lost, and showing up late, when you do it for real. If your school does not offer an open house night, then have your child envision themselves in the school and classroom.

2.Wear Something That Makes Your Child Feel Confident – and Comfortable 

You might want to show off your new shoes and dress, but come lunchtime your child will wish they were wearing something more suitable for lugging around a backpack. Stick with something practical. Plan the first day of school outfit with the words “comfy but cool” in mind.  Lay it out on the bed, but then be sure your child tries it on as well to make sure that it’s comfortable.

3. Get to know the Teachers

You and your child are going to be spending a lot of time with the teachers over the next few months, so instead of your child being afraid of them, or despising them, get to know them.  Who knows, the teachers might have some really cool interests that they can share with you and your child, which will make coming to school a lot more fun for your child.

4. If Your Child’s Friends Aren’t in All Their Classes, Don’t Sweat It 

Tell your child to focus on getting to know their new classmates, and catch up with last year’s pals after school. In a couple of months, your child will have more friends not less.

5. Get a good night’s sleep and eat breakfast in the morning 

Now that school is back in session, it’s time to get back into the routine of going to bed at a decent hour, getting as close to 8 hours of sleep as possible, and eating breakfast in the morning. Try to start this nighttime and morning routine at least two weeks prior to school starting, so that it becomes a habit and then on the first day of school, your child will be good to go.  They will learn better, be less cranky, and be better prepared for the new challenges and adventures that this school year brings.

6. Know That It’s OK to Feel Freaked-Out 

The first day of school is nerve-wracking for everyone, even if some children don’t show it. Just tell your child to try to stay as calm and focused as they can. As the school year gets rolling, they will wonder why they were so worried in the first place.
Keep in mind that the first day might feel super long for your child.  But, it’s just a mental trick because your child is experiencing so much new stuff. Next week, when they are more familiar with their classes, it won’t feel like that anymore!