The First Day

Send your kid off to kindergarten on the right foot.
by Virgina BowerPARENTGUIDE News September 2005


It’s that time of year again. Millions of parents will be getting their children prepared for the first day of kindergarten! I have one child heading off to college this September and one heading off to kindergarten!Over the years I learned so many things. One of the biggest and most important things I have learned is to make the first day of school special. It makes a huge difference in your child’s life. These are the ABCs of going back to school I used for many years:Admire your child’s strengths. Tell him how well he will do in school because he already knows how to color, paint and sing the ABCs.
Bond with your child. Let him know you are in this education thing together and he’s not alone.
Care: Put extra special care in everything you do on the first day of school, right down to standing in front of a mirror with him to admire how tall he is!
Devote your time. Try and take time off from work and spend he morning with the new student.
Enjoy every minute of it! You only get one of these first days every year, so enjoy all the attention you give your child!
Flatter your child after he dresses in his new school clothes. Makes sure he knows how great he looks.
Glow: Tell your child he is your sunshine. Your child will smile from ear to ear just knowing you are making this time for him special.
Hug often during the prep time.
Include: Get your child involved in making his lunch. Ask questions and see what he would like for lunch. This will also relax him. Allow him to pick out the outfit he wants to wear.
Joy: Show him a lot of joy. Tell him you expect to get a blow-by-blow discussion when he gets home. Tell him you want to know every detail.
Know he’s anxious, and let him know it’s normal to feel the way he’s feeling. Everyone gets a little nervous when they start something new.
Love: Say the words, “I love you!”