The first day is nearly here. A few simple things you can do in these final days can help your child feel confident, reassured and ready for their new adventure.
Starting nursery or school for the first time is a huge milestone. There will be excitement, anticipation and, for some children, a few butterflies too.
And if you’re wondering whether your child is really ready, we’d like to start with something important:
They may not feel completely ready – and that’s okay.
There may still be things you had hoped they would be able to do before starting school. Perhaps they are still learning to manage their shoes, get dressed independently or remember that it’s okay to ask for help.
But they are only just beginning this exciting journey of learning and growing. They don’t need to arrive knowing everything – that’s what school is for.
At Ripley Court, we will meet them where they are, help them build their confidence and support them as they develop their independence and discover all the wonderful things they are capable of.
So, with just a few days to go, here are some simple things you can do together.
- Talk through the day
Children often feel more comfortable when they know what is coming.
Talk through their first morning and some of the things they can expect: arriving at school, meeting their teacher, activities, playing outside, lunch and, most importantly, when you will come back.
You don’t need to rehearse every minute. Just give your child a little picture of what their day might look like.
And ask them if there is anything they are wondering about. You might discover that the thing they’re worried about is something very simple that you can easily reassure them about.
- Practise a few little things – but don’t panic about independence
These final days are a good opportunity to let your child have a go at things such as putting on their coat, managing their shoes, using the toilet and tidying away their belongings.
But don’t turn the last few days of the holidays into a race to become completely independent!
Independence is a skill that continues to develop at school.
One of the most important things your child can know is that it’s okay to ask for help when they need it.
- Try everything on
If you haven’t already, have a little school-uniform try-on before the big day.
Let your child practise putting on their uniform, coat and shoes and have a go at managing them themselves.
It’s not a test – just a chance to make those first-day routines feel familiar.
- Read a story about starting school
A story can be a lovely way to talk about starting school without making it feel like a big conversation.
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is a particularly lovely choice for children who may be worried about being apart from their parents.
You can watch The Kissing Hand read aloud on YouTube.
Afterwards, you could create your own little Kissing Hand ritual – a kiss in the palm of your child’s hand to remind them that your love goes with them wherever they go.
- Draw a little heart
Draw a small heart on your child’s hand or wrist – and one on yours.
Tell them:
“Even when we’re not together, we’re always connected. If you miss me, look at your heart and remember that I’m thinking about you too.”
It’s a tiny thing, but it gives your child something tangible to look at if they have a little wobble during the day.
- Practise your goodbye
Decide together what your special goodbye will be. Perhaps it’s a cuddle, a kiss and a little touch of noses – something small that belongs just to the two of you.
The important thing is that it is warm, confident and not too long.
If your child is upset, it can be tempting to stay for another cuddle, another kiss and another explanation. But a long goodbye can sometimes make the moment harder.
Let them know:
“I’m going now. Your teacher is here to look after you, and I’ll come back later.”
Then let their teacher take over.
- Don’t sneak away
Even if your child is happily distracted, try not to disappear without saying goodbye.
It is much more reassuring for them to learn that you always say goodbye – and that you always come back.
And if there are tears, don’t panic.
It’s very common for children to become upset at the moment of goodbye, only to settle surprisingly quickly once their parent has left. A child crying at the school gate does not mean they are going to be unhappy all day.
Our teachers are very used to those first-day emotions and know how to help children move from goodbye into the next part of their day.
- It’s okay to feel nervous
We don’t need to promise children that they won’t feel worried.
Instead, let them know that feeling nervous about something new is perfectly normal.
“You might feel a little nervous, and that’s okay. Your teacher will be there to help you.”
We’re not trying to remove every difficult feeling. We’re helping children learn that they can have those feelings and still be okay.
- And finally… trust the process
Perhaps your child is incredibly confident and you know they are going to skip through the door.
Perhaps you’re not quite so sure.
Perhaps they can dress themselves perfectly. Perhaps they’re still working on their shoes.
There is no single version of “ready”.
However ready you feel your child is, we are ready for them.
We have shared these first steps with many families over the years. We know that some children settle immediately, while others need a little longer. We know how to comfort, reassure, encourage and gently help children find their place.
You don’t have to have prepared your child for everything.
You have given them love, encouragement and the confidence to take this next step.
Now let us help them take it.
So, in these last few days, enjoy the final moments of summer together. Read a story. Try on the uniform. Talk about what will happen. Draw your little hearts.
And when the first morning arrives, take a breath, give them a big hug, share your special goodbye – and trust that they will find their way.
We can’t wait to welcome them to Ripley Court.