School Time!!!

Well, the day has come.  Today, I sent Alex off on the bus for her first day of school.  And, sitting here at home, all alone, I was thinking of all the things I did to prepare her for school.  Here are my tips of what to teach kids for their first year, or anytime.

The School Bus:
-Teach your child the bus number AS SOON as you find out what bus they'll be taking.  This way, if they are at school, and their teachers can't figure it out, your child will be able to tell them.
-Teach your child the routine for catching the bus, and getting off of the bus.  I know that Alex was very concerned of the lack of seatbelts, and where she's supposed to go when she gets to the school.
-Tell your child not to get off the bus unless they see you.  Most school buses will just return a child to the school if they do not get off the bus.  This way, if there is an emergency and for some reason, you're not at home, your child will remain safe.
-Teach your child NOT to leave the school with anyone except your approved people, or the bus.  It may sound paranoid, but kidnapping DOES happen, and you and your childshould be prepared.

The Teacher:
-Meet the teacher.  Especially for new Kindergarteners/Pre-K students, it is good to attend the orientation.  This way, they can see their school, their teacher, their classroom, and you can learn helpful tips to make the transistion from home to school easy.
-Go over the teacher's name with your child.  I would randomly ask Alex what her teacher's name was, and in a few days, she had it memorized.

The Backpack:
-Be sure that your little student knows where everything in their backpack is, and be sure that it is backed the night before school.  That way, if you forget something, you are more likely to remember in the morning, since you dont have to worry about packing the usual items.
-Be sure that it's not too heavy, and that it is sitting properly on your child's back.  Backpacks can cause a lot of back problems later in life, so it's better to try to prevent it now.
-Be sure you remind your child not to leave their backpack on the bus!!!
-Label EVERYTHING, from the backpack itself to everything inside of the backpack.  This way, if it does get left somehwhere, it's more likely to make it's way back to your student.

The Parents:
-The first day of school can be stressful,  even for a parent who has a child in 1st, 2nd, even 5th grade.  Just know that the school systems have done this MANY times, and have procedures in place to make it easier for everyone.  As long as you have prepared your child properly, have faith in them and the school system.  It's a scary and exciting time, embrace the emotions!