Greensboro, NC -- The first day of school is now less than 24 hours away! What about if you're nervous? What about if your child is nervous?
Myra Wright, editor of Piedmont Parent, has ideas of how to calm first day jitters.
Go to bed early and wake up early. Make sure the kids are well-rested and give yourself plenty of time to get ready, eat nutritious breakfast and allow for heavy traffic, if you are driving the kids to school. Schools will be especially crowded those first few days.
Pick out clothes and pack book bag the night before. This makes the morning routine go much smoother and will give you more time.
Talk to your child about his or her concerns. Try to address any specific worries (practice finding classroom, review class schedule, etc.) before the big day.
Give the kids a pep talk, but don't overdo it. Be positive and be encouraging, but understand that you can make the kids even more nervous with too much conversation. how many times are school-age kids asked, "are you ready for school to start?" a lot, especially from well-meaning grandparents, neighbors, friends, etc. being asked this question over and over can create anxiety.
Celebrate the start of the school year. Consider have a special meal the night before school starts. cook all of your kids' favorite foods and have a back-to-school bash.