The first day of school is approaching and will be upon us in just a few months. Offers of primary school places have now been sent out and somehow, ridiculously, that cute little bundle you brought home from hospital what feels like minutes ago is old enough to start education. It can be a stressful time – for parents and children alike. But here are some top tips for making the transition a little easier: Let them know what to expect Parenting expert and mother of three, Dr Pat Spungin told the NHS Choices website: “The idea of ‘big school’ can be very appealing for children, but it can also be quite frightening. “It’s useful to let your child know what’s coming by reading them books about starting school and talking to them about it. That will reduce their anxiety.” There are plenty of books about school, but they can also talk to you, or older siblings or family friends who can take some of the mystery away. Let them know the specifics – roughly how long they’ll spend at school in the day, who will pick them up etc. Try not to bombard them with all this information the night before though – let them get used to the idea over a few weeks or months. Label everything Primary school teacher and mum Emma Parker, from Durham, says one of her top tips for parents is something quite small: make sure their name is on everything they take in…. [Read full story]
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