Starting School: A Parent's Guide

Starting school is a milestone that brings excitement and anxiety — for children and parents alike. The way you approach this transition shapes how your child feels about school for years to come.

The most important thing is your own attitude. Children are emotional sponges. If you're anxious, they'll be anxious. If you're positive and calm, they'll feel safe. Talk about school with excitement, not worry.

Before school starts, visit together. Most schools offer transition days. If not, ask to visit. Walk around, find the classroom, the toilets, the playground. Familiarity reduces anxiety.

Practise the routine. A week before school starts, practise getting up, dressed and out the door at school time. This removes the morning rush stress and helps your child feel prepared.

Build independence. Your child should be able to: use the toilet independently, dress themselves, open their lunchbox, and ask for help when needed. These skills build enormous confidence.

Read books about starting school. There are wonderful picture books that help children understand what to expect. Read them together and talk about the characters' feelings.

Talk about feelings. Ask: 'How are you feeling about starting school?' Validate all feelings — excitement, nervousness, or both. 'It's okay to feel nervous. That just means you care.'

On the first day, keep goodbyes short and positive. A hug, a 'You've got this,' and a smile. Don't linger — prolonged goodbyes increase anxiety. Trust the school to contact you if there's a problem.

After school, ask specific questions. 'What made you laugh today?' works better than 'How was school?' Give them space to decompress before asking too much.