If you are a mother of a young child, you know that part with cries of "Don't go, mommy!" when it’s time to go to school. Whether your kid is going to school for the first time or returning to classes after a summer vacations, it is natural for the pains to grow. Here are some tips on how to prepare yourself and your kid for that day.

Practice makes things better

If you are preparing your child for the first time, he/she will be separated from you. It is useful to do some practice separation. Let him/her spend a day or a few hours at friend’s or grandparents’ house. It is beneficial for both of you to know that you will be okay and safe without each other.

Know your kid

Don’t you plant worry seeds if your child doesn’t pick up a phone. Creating stress when there is not any is not a very good idea. On the other hand, if you know that your child will probably have a really hard time, it is okay to have a few of small conversations to explain what is happening. Separation anxiety is a fear of the unknown, so it is crucial to find a balance between explaining what he/she has to do without hyper protection and overdoing it. Place confidence in your kid’s self-consistency.

Role playing

To let your kid understand what to expect at school, practice role playing. Ask him/her to pretend to be a mother or a father while you act like a child. Together you should go through all the events of a first school day: waking up, eating breakfast, getting dressed, dropping a child (you) off and picking you up. This creative and funny approach may help you avoid a considerable part of anxiety and stress.

Countdown calendar

Just like you count the days before Christmas, you may count the days until the school starts. It will help you to organize the household and help your kid imagine the time frame.

Friendly faces

It is great to find some other kids that will be in the same class and arrange some reindeer games before the school starts. You will get a chance to get acquainted with their parents and help your little one acclimate to new surroundings. If your child starts being capricious about school, remind him/her that he/she will meet friends there.

Preschool shopping

As a rule, teachers give a list of necessary school supplies a few weeks before the school starts. Even if you already have some items, it is good to make a special trip to a store with your kid and buy one or two things. Turn it into a fun adventure or excursion for both of you. Let your child choose pencils, notebooks or rulers and put them in a special place for the first school day. 

A piece of home

I case if your kid has a special comfort item like teddy bear or a blanket, pack it in his/her backpack to let him/her have a bit of home coziness at the moments of homesick. Experts claim that an item that smells like home will help a child feel less stressed. "

The last advice is simple: be patient. Indeed, it will take time before your kid fully adjusts to the school life, new schedule, and environment. Make your morning routine phased and your goodbye ritual short, and your little one will soon get used to school.

About the author: Stacy Green is an article writer at Ghostwritingessays with an MA degree in Communication Studies. She writes articles for blogs and online educational portals for more than three years. Her main fields of interest are Education, Psychology, Sociology, Communications and Media.