Monday 11 September 2017

FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL & EMPTY NEST SYNDROME


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