I don’t remember my first day of school but I can only imagine the excitement and the trepidation that I must have felt. Standing there waiting for the school bus
to show and then boarding that huge yellow vehicle filled with people I didn’t know and leaving my parents behind. Thank goodness for my big sister to show me the ropes.
Not everyone may have a big brother or sister to help them on their first day so we have a number of suggestions to help reduce the stress associated with those first day jitters for both the students and parents.
Talk to your child about travelling to and from school each day.
♣ Tell me about how I will get to school: Will I walk? Will you drive me? Will I take the school bus?
♣ Remind me each day how I will get home and who will pick me up.
♣ Walk or drive me to school before the first day to show me the way.
♣ Teach me to wait for the bus on the side walk, well back from the road.
♣ When the bus stops and the door opens, show me how to climb up the steps and hold onto the railing.
♣ Remind me to behave, listen to the driver and sit quietly.
♣ Teach me to recognize my regular stop. I should only get off the bus here.
♣ Teach me how to get off the bus safely. I should watch the driver for the okay and look all ways before I cross the street.
♣ I should tell the driver I see who is to meet me and walk to the person who is picking me up.
Best of luck on your first day of school!
“Labor Day is a glorious holiday because your child will be going back to school the next day. It would have been called Independence Day, but that name was already taken.” ~Bill Dodds
