Are you worried about the first day of school for your child..

If the thought of sending your younger one to school, a new place, with new people, and new challenges is daunting, here is my step-by-step guide about School Readiness “ I am school Ready”.

1. First and foremost, it's not about your child, it is about you. Relive your stress about how he will manage without you. You have to release the separation anxiety about being separated from your child. When the mother is fine about it , the child automatically learns to manage without the mother and gradually learns, that is the pattern of day routine.
2. Talk to them, and show them stories about how children go to school using scrapbooks and videos.
3. Tell them exciting things about school- what they will see, colourful toys, there will be mam, new friends.
4. Involve them in school prep activities related bag purchase, getting uniform ready, putting their favourite stickers on books or bags, purchasing of lunch boxes and water bottles.
5. Prepare a scrapbook related how the would be day like, bath, getting ready, breakfast, mama dropping at school, you will meet favourite mam, you will dance, you will play with your favourite games, mention the games, eat your favourite food and then mama will come to receive you.
6. Let their siblings or cousins model the whole routine for them
7. Share positive stories about going to school using some bhaiya didi examples.
8. Do some role play of setting up school like atmosphere with proper blackboard and table chairs in home.
9. Encourage spending time with study material or school-related materials.
10. Make them partial to completely independent in taking care of themselves in eating, drinking, and using the washroom.
11. Keep goodbyes brief. When it's time to leave, give a confident, loving send-off without lingering. This avoids heightening their anxiety.
12. At the end of the day, when returning to home, reinforce them with some materialistic gains or emotional gains, and tell them it is for the brave effort they made going to school and mama is very happy about it.
13. Relationship development with teachers and support staff- for a smooth journey for our child it's very important that you share key information related to the child, like some favourite play, food items fear related to washroom or anything else to staff in school. Because on this information only, they will be able to provide home like understanding and warmth in school.

The key is to be patient, understanding and proactive in helping your child feel prepared and supported for this transition.