FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL & EMPTY NEST SYNDROME
If your child is leaving to go to school, you may be feeling a little
bereft. But remember the transition will be challenging for them too, even if
they don’t let on that they’re nervous. After all, they’re the one taking the
leap.
The good news? The first day at school is a transition that you as a
parent can help your child with. Plus, it’ll make you feel better to know
that they can manage on their own. Read on…
BACK TO SCHOOL
If your child is starting school for the first time, then there’s lots
you can do to help them prepare, most importantly by building their confidence
and independence skills. The teacher will give your child lots of support at
school but it’s helpful if they can do some things for themselves.
1) Teach them to use the toilet on their own. You can find advice and
tips on how to do this at eric.org.uk
2) Choose clothes and shoes for their uniform that are easy for them
to get on and off, such as shoes with Velcro, trousers or skirts with stretchy
waistbands and t-shirts rather than shirts with buttons.
3) At home, help them to practice putting on their uniform – using a
mirror may help.
4) Choose a lunchbox they can open on their own and give them time to
practice opening all the pots and packets you’ll put inside. 5) Make sure
they’re used to sitting at a table and using cutlery.
Although the school won’t expect your child to be able to read, write
or count, there are things you can do to support these areas of development at
home and get them ready for learning more at school. Things like playing simple
games e.g. i-spy, doing puzzles together, singing counting rhymes and doing
arts and crafts will help them to practice their fine motor skills and social
skills. Don’t forget to visit the library and read to your child.
DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND
Once they’ve started school, without your child to look after it’s
important to find other ways to feel useful. If you’re not heading back to
work, and can spare the time, why not consider volunteering for a couple of
hours a week? From manning a phone line to handing out food at a shelter, it
can help you feel you’re making a difference. Then by 3·30pm, your child will
be home again, and normal chaos can resume!
Visit volunteering.org.uk for ideas.
SOCIALISE
Many schools run coffee mornings or social gatherings to help new
parents get to know each other, so ask whether this is something your child’s
school offers. If not, why not organise one yourself? It’s a great way to meet
others in the same situation and will take the focus off missing your child.
TIME FOR YOU
It can take 18 months to make the emotional transition from being a
round-the-clock parent to an independent one (at least during school hours). We
don’t just adjust to such losses by getting used to them, we need to replace them
with new or revived roles. Other than a parent, what are you? Perhaps a keen
baker, lapsed painter or entrepreneurial whizz? Recognise your previous
achievements and feel proud – it may even empower you to set and reach new
goals for yourself to achieve.
This post first appeared here: Eden Private Staff