First Day of School:

Allow plenty of time. The chances are, your child won’t be prepared for you to just drop him off and leave on the first day, so be prepared to hang around until he’s settled.

You’ll probably be feeling just as anxious and emotional as they are, but try to stay cheery and confident – children pick up on your feelings of apprehension.

Explain to your child when you’ll be back – don’t fob him off with fibs such as “Mummy’s just going to move the car” when you make your exit. Tell him you’ll be back after lunch/drink and biscuit time/story time.

Preparing your child for pre-school:

Your child’s first day at the daycare or playgroup can be a daunting prospect for both you and him. But our advice will help to ensure that his experience of the daycare or playgroup is a happy one from the start.

Boost his social confidence:

Socialising with other children is a skill that has to be learnt gradually, and some children will find it easier than others. If you can introduce him to the idea of sharing and taking turns before he starts at pre-school he’ll find the whole experience less daunting. Don’t expect great things at first -: children usually play alongside each other rather than together until they’re around three years old. And while you don’t need to stand over young children while they play, you need to be close by to step in if they start to squabble over toys. If you don’t have a network of other mums with children the same age as yours, joining a mother and toddler group is a great way to introduce your child to socialising while you keep a watchful eye.