MaketheFirstDayMemorable

Make the First Day Memorable

Soon your children will be picking out their clothes and anxiously awaiting the opening bell on the first day of school. With shiny new backpacks and pencils sharpened, your children will return to the familiarity of their school routines. As the days of summer vacation slip away many children experience pangs of fear and dismay at the thought of the first days of school.

Whether your child is returning to a familiar routine, or going off to school for the first time, you can make the difference between your kids dreading and looking forward to returning to school. Make the first days of school memorable and successful with some fun loving and festive ideas that are sure to chase away the first-day blues.

1. Let go of some control – The new school year represents more than book reports and science projects to your child. The structure of school, extracurricular activities and nightly rituals significantly reduce a child’s ability to make his own decisions. While on break, kids are able to decide what game to play, which bathing suit to wear, or which neighborhood pal to play with. Allowing your child to regain a bit of control as you transition back into the school routine will alleviate everyone’s stress and anxiety. Suggest that your child make a selection from a few options for dinner the night before the first day of school. Talk about what clothes he would like to wear on the first day. Let him chose his new folders or how to spend his last few days of summer.

2. Take time to reflect – Dedicate some time in the waning weeks of vacation for you and your children to assemble summer scrapbooks. Encourage each child to crop or mount her favorites in a way that accentuates her own personality and style. You all can reflect on the fun and silly ways you spent the past few months and your children will have a keepsake of their summer activities.

3. Start right the night before – Pop a family-sized bowl of popcorn and watch home movies of when the kids were younger or of previous first days of school. They’ll be pleased (and maybe even a little embarrassed) to see how they’ve grown and you’ll be glad for the chance to reminisce

4. A memorable Good Morning! – Wake your kids up with flair on the first day of school. Younger children will delight at a huge bouquet of ‘Good luck on the first day’ balloons and older kids will appreciate their favorite breakfast served ala room-style with the comics or sports page before they rush out to middle or high school.

5. Don’t over hype school – Sending a child to school with unrealistic expectations can backfire in the event the first hours of school are less than wonderful or can’t measure up to the expectations created at home. Be honest when addressing nervous questions such as, "Will there be homework?" or "Will school be hard?" Anxiety can be overcome with realistic reassurance that school will be a place to meet new friends and interact with old pals.

6. Welcome them home – Pack a welcome home picnic for lunch and treat your mighty academic warriors to a relaxing lunch in the great outdoors or on a blanket in your living room. Celebrate the first day of school with dinner at a favorite restaurant or picnic in the backyard with pizza and ice cream. Get wildly creative and decorate the front door or kitchen with welcome home signs and crepe paper to create a fun and lighthearted environment. Giving your children something to look forward to will help ease the transition of returning to school. You’ll also let them know how much you missed them during the day.

7. Remember yourself – Don’t forget to make the day memorable for yourself as well. If you have the chance, schedule a trip to your favorite spa for some pampering. If you’re short on time, try to meet supportive friends for a light lunch or stroll your local bookstore for a great new book you’ve been dying to read. Remember it is natural for parents to feel a range of emotions on the first day of school.