Starting shcool

Oh Kellz     Have you tried rescue remedy ? I feel the same way about Ruby starting Kindy. Its such a big milestone.   Great help aren't I ?

Have you done the visits ? Does seeing where she will be and what kind of things they are doing help ?

Edited by pudgy

We've just been through it. All I can say is take it one day at at time and try to remember all the things you liked about school. I was so worried that Gabrielle would feel let down by the reality of school and would want to go back to the freedom of kindy. However, when I stopped to think about it, at no stage during my childhood do I remember looking backwards. Even if the new stage wasn't as exciting as I thought it'd be I was still pleased to have "grown up" a bit more.

I also worry about the peer related stuff e.g. what will she be exposed to + will someone be mean to her. I guess the answer is yes, they get exposed to stuff we wish they didn't and they will come across kids who are mean (Gabrielle already talks about a boy who is mean). The way I'm dealing with it is to constantly remind myself that these are all vital and unavoidable steps towards becoming the people they are going to be. There is no way we can keep them 4 forever (I wish!). I also try to be as inolved as I can be although it isn't easy as we can't actually be in the classroom during school time.

Unfortunately it does come down to making the decision to think of the postives each time a fear / negative comes to mind. It is a process. And remember that it is all normal and almost everyone goes through it.

Hope that helps!

Well I think she is! Hard to know as she doesn't tell me much about it. Sometimes she says she doesn't want to go and sometimes she says it is extra good and she can't wait to go. I think they are so caught up in it they don't really know what they think. For more kids I think friends are the key.

I wrote this in your thread in the kindy & beyond:

mummydee wrote: Ditto, I think I found it harder than Ollie did! I was so close to tears on his first day (tried really hard not to show it though). And he got used to school really quickly. He's always been a kid that loves structure and routine though. We had trouble with toileting for the first few weeks. At kindy he was used to being able to go whenever he needed. While the teachers totally understand little kids can't 'hold on' the kids do need to say something, which he wasn't. We spoke to his teacher and she would make sure she asked and encouraged him at least a couple of times a day. Then at the start of term 2 we introduced a sticker chart. After the first 2 days, he's been dry since and is confident about asking his teacher and going by himself. So far I don't think anyone has been mean to him. He hasn't said anything and the teacher said he is building friendships within the class which is great. Make sure you talk to the teacher regularly, and they can allay any fears you may have or put practices into place to manage any issues that may arise. While it was hard 'letting go' of my baby, watching his growing confidence and independence is also such a reward

Hugs Kel!