Advice for Parents of Younger Children Starting School

Each year, when my children start school, there are some things that I review with them to prevent embarassment or nerves should these situations arise. Some of this is advice passed on by my mother who used to be a first grade teacher and others are lessons learned by myself and friends.

What to do if your tummy doesn't feel good...

It can be embarassing and upsetting for kids for have an upset stomach at school. Tell your kids that if they ever don't feel good and think they are going to be sick, to get up and go to either the sink (if there is one in their room) or the wastebasket. Explain that the teacher may tell them to sit down, but will not be upset once they realize what is happening. This contains the mess and will prevent a chain reaction. When you get the phone call to pick up your child, take a bucket with you. It may save your car on the way home.

Nobody is at the bus stop...

Call the transportation office prior to the first day of school and inquire as to what the procedure is if there isn't someone at the bus stop to meet your child. In our school district, the bus driver will keep the child on the bus and radio the transportation office before completing the bus route. The office calls the parents who will hopefully be at the bus stop when the bus returns. If a parent can't be contacted, the child is taken back to the school.

This is also a great time to find out the bus route. If the bus pulls away just as you arrive at the bus stop, you know where it is going and can catch it.

I missed the bus at school...

Explain to your child that they should find a teacher or staff member and explain what happened. Then, they will be walked down to the main office and someone will call their parents to pick them up. They will need to wait in the office until a parent can get there to pick them up.

I forgot my lunch (or boots or homework...)

Hopefully, you and your child have a routine either at night or in the morning to prevent this situation, but it does happen. Ask your child to tell the teacher as soon as they realize they forgot something. Explain the teacher may let them call home (or work) to ask about the forgotten item or they may tell them not to worry about it. School cafeteria's are used to dealing with forgotten lunches and many school nurses have extra boots or gym sneakers.

Who are my emergency contacts...

When you fill out the emergency contact form at the beginning of the school year, talk to your child about who is on the list and situations where they might be contacted. It is helpful for them to know that if mom or dad can't be reached, Gramma, Uncle Jim, or family friend Sue will be there to help.