HOW TO HANDLE A TOUGH FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL? 

Written by Feba Maryann 

Most of the firsts in children’s lives bring great joy to everyone around but the first day of school always remains a bittersweet memory. On one hand, your child is taking their first step into discovering and learning new things and on the other hand, you have to stay separated during school hours. However, if things take an unfortunate turn for your child on the first day, regardless of their age, it is bound to affect the rest of their school year.  

If your child had a tough first day at school, being a shoulder to lean on is highly important. Supporting your child in the right way after an unfavourable start at school can help them overcome the reluctance to attend school in the following days. Here are a few tips on how to handle a tough first day at school.  

Err On the Side of Caution

The first thing you can do to handle a tough first day at school is by telling your child what to expect from a school day. If your child knows what is in store for them at school, the roles they need to play, the people they will interact with, and so on, they have lower chances of getting overwhelmed by school.  

Being familiar with the morning routine for a school day and being able to recognize what is going on at school can reduce a lot of anxiety and stress on the first day, thereby making your child’s first day of school so much easier.  

Positive Affirmation 

For this technique to work, you need to start early and stay persistent. Teaching your children to affirm themselves can take time but once your child picks up this habit, having a bad day at school will not impact them as hard as one might expect it to. By starting their day with a positive affirmation such as “I am going learn new things and meet new people today,” the child is primed to look at incidents with an optimistic outlook. They do not get easily disheartened and even if they do, they can change the negative pattern of thoughts by affirming themselves. 

Showering Support 

The best way you can show your support to your child is by expressing your confidence in them. If they had a tough first day at school, tell them how some days might seem longer and harder than others. Assure them that you believe that they can get through anything if they put in the effort. When you express your confidence in your child’s abilities, they feel more anchored and stronger when they face various obstacles. 

While showing your confidence in them, be sure to remind them that they can lean on you anytime. Having a parent to rely on, especially emotionally, can make your child feel more secure when they get back to school after a tough day.   

Secure Enough Downtime

While starting school, it is easy for children to get overexcited about even the smallest of things. When your child is riding the high of emotions, even a slight inconvenience can bring them crashing down. Hence, building an after-school routine can help you manage all the excess energy. After their time at school, make sure that your child gets something to snack on and takes a nap.  

Following this, if your child is comfortable to open up about the difficult day that they had at school, lend an ear. Being hungry or tired will only worsen their mood and ruin the joy of having a new experience.   

Connect With the Teacher 

If you feel that your little one needs some extra attention from the teacher, get in touch with them. Don’t wait for a teacher-parent conference to discuss your child’s needs and progress at school. A good rapport between the teacher and the parent will always be beneficial to a child.  

Final Thoughts  

Your child may not always have a great day at school. Understanding this, you should always be prepared to help through a bad day and process the emotions that come with it. Getting adjusted to school life and various experiences that come with it are an integral part of growing up, all you need to do is provide a positive environment to facilitate growth.