Is your little one starting school for the first time? Here are some tips for first time back to school moms!
As we head into back to school, I can't believe that I have a kindergartner this year! The last five years have flown by but also went by so slow! How is that possible?!
Some of you know that my soon to be kindergartner was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder when he was about two. Roman has been through many hours of physical therapy, feeding therapy, speech therapy, mommy needs therapy... I kid. Because he was diagnosed at two, at the age of three he qualified to attend our school districts Special Education program. While he was at school he would receive his speech therapy on site. I was so excited for him to go to a school that could help him. He had already been a part of a 2s preschool and our social little man thrived in a school environment.
He is now out of the Special Education program (he graduated with flying colors and now has advanced out of most of his therapies), he is thrilled to start kindergarten. This has been a hot topic in my circle as I have many friends that are sending their sweet babies off to school for the first time this fall. Being that this is our "fourth" year, I thought I would offer some tidbits that I have learned about back to school. Enjoy!
1. You have worked so hard to nurture and grow this little person and now all of the sudden they are going to be under someone else's care. Trust your child's teacher. They want your child to be as successful as possible.
2. School drop off. You are leaving your little. You are leaving them all alone in a big scary school. Guess what?! They are going to love it and they are going to find their stride. Don't hold them back from doing so. Momma needs to appear strong, resilient and so excited for the first day of school. If you are a wreck, they will be a wreck. Be excited and share with them what the day will look like, who they will meet, where they will have lunch and what you are going to pack for them. Inform them and send them off.
3. DO NOT LINGER! I see this one every year. You are nervous, your little is nervous. So you hang around and "make sure" they are okay. Guess what? That makes drop off more difficult. Drop your little off, give them a hug, and tell them you will see them after school and leave. Cry, sob or puke outside of the classroom. Out of earshot and out of sight. Have your moment away from them so they don't see it. Show them that school is fun and not scary! They are ready for this!
4. Start your bedtime routine a bit earlier. Being in school all day or half day is a huge adjustment for kids! They need a little bit more sleep at night to make sure they are ready for the day! Roman is STILL my three-hour napper. I am sad to give those up and the first couple of months of school will be hard but they will adjust!
5. Make extra food at breakfast and dinner. Every day I dutifully packed Roman's lunch. For the first month and a half, almost his whole lunch was coming home with him... He wasn't eating anything! Any mom with an SPD kid knows that "a hungry kid will eat" doesn't apply with SPD. Most, like mine, don't know how to eat! Add in the social factor of lunchtime and your kids might not eat for the first couple of weeks. This could be the first time they have meals socially with their peers. Fill them up at breakfast and make extra food at dinnertime. High protein and low sugar is the way to go! And make sure that their snacks have a protein buddy! Pair a carb and protein together. This will keep them from crashing later.
6. Make sure that your little can handle going to the bathroom alone. Doing this at home is easy. Being in a bathroom with stalls and trying to get buttons undone can be difficult. Make sure your kids are practicing at home so they are ready for this when school starts.
7. Be kind to the teacher. Not only are they helping you teach and raise your little to be a great person but they are probably nervous about the school year too! Lord only knows what I would do if I was put in charge of 25 kindergartners! They are probably worried about classroom dynamics, lesson plans, state testing and getting to know each child in their class. Bring them a Starbucks card and thank them for investing in your kid this year.
Happy back to school! YOU CAN DO THIS, MOMMA!
Erin Houg is the owner of FIT4MOM Redmond/Kirkland/Woodinville. She loves to share her journeys in motherhood. You can check out her blog here!
----
Join 2,700+ Bellevue, Redmond, Mercer Island, and Kirkland Parents who get all the best, family-friendly events and activities delivered right to them each week for FREE. Subscribe now! http://the-eastside.macaronikid.com/subscribe/
