When kids start school, it’s a big deal for parents. It’s a time filled with emotions—from pride to anxiety. As a parent, you want to make sure your child has the best possible start to their school life.

It’s a time when a child’s abilities start to be assessed and their learning environment starts to expand beyond the home. In this article, we’ll share expert pediatrician tips for your child’s early school years.

1. Be Positive About Going to School

Children take their cues from their parents, so if you’re positive and enthusiastic, they’re more likely to embrace the experience of going to school.

You can help your child by talking about school in a positive way—what fun things they’ll do and learn, exciting peers, and the friends they’ll make. For nervous or anxious kids, you can role-play to help them see that starting school is an exciting adventure.

2. Get Organized

Starting school requires a lot of organization. Children need backpacks, pencils, and other supplies. You can get organized by creating a checklist of everything your child needs and making sure everything is ready to be purchased.

It’s important to have this list several weeks before school begins. This way, you’ll be able to avoid the last-minute rush to the store.

3. Establish Routines

In the weeks leading up to the first day of school, kids should start to establish a routine that will support them during the school year. This entails having a regular bedtime and wake-up time, as well as a schedule for meals, playtime, and homework.

This schedule should include some time for play, reading, and relaxation, as well as time for homework. Your child should also have time to be outdoors and be active every day.

4. Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is critical for school-age children. According to the National Sleep Foundation, preschoolers need 11-13 hours of sleep, elementary school kids need 10-11 hours of sleep, and junior high school kids need around 9 hours of sleep per night.

Lack of sleep can have an impact on your child’s mood, behavior, and academic performance. To make sure your child gets enough sleep, establish a regular bedtime routine and stick to it. Make sure there are no electronic devices in your child’s bedroom during sleep time.

5. Encourage Independence

Encourage your child to become more independent. At school, they’ll need to be able to navigate their way around, ask for help when needed, and get around with their daily work and homework.

You can prepare them for this by teaching them to be responsible for their things, including their school supplies, backpacks, and homework. Encourage your child to pack their own backpack and ensure that they have everything they need every day.

6. Make Time for Physical Activity

Physical activity plays an important role in your child’s development and overall wellness. Encourage your child to be physically active every day, even on the weekends.

Physical activity can take many forms, such as swimming, running, biking, yoga, dancing, or jumping rope. It’s important to find something your child enjoys and help them make it a regular part of their life.

7. Help Your Child to Make Friends

Friendships are a critical part of a child’s happiness and development. If your child is an introvert or shy, it can be challenging to make friends. You can help your child by meeting other families in the area and setting up play dates.

You can also teach your child social skills to help them make connections with their peers. Finally, encourage your child to be themselves, express themselves and let them know that making mistakes is something that is part of life and growth.

8. Promote Healthy Habits

It’s important to teach your child healthy habits that will help them throughout their school years. This includes eating healthy meals and snacks, washing their hands regularly, and covering their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze.

These healthy habits will help keep your child happy and healthy throughout the school year.

9. Stay Involved with Your Child’s School

It’s important to stay involved with your child’s education and school life. Attend back-to-school nights and other school events, volunteer in the classroom or on field trips when you can.

Talk to your child about their day, what they’re learning, and what their challenges are. This will help you stay informed and involved with your child’s school life.

10. Stay Attentive to Your Child’s Growth

As your child grows and learns, it’s important to stay attentive and aware of their growth and development. This means staying attentive to their physical health, emotional well-being, and academic performance.

If you’re concerned about any aspect of your child’s growth, seek professional advice or talk to their teachers and counselors.

Conclusion

Starting school can be a significant milestone for both children and parents. By following the expert pediatrician tips outlined above, you can help ensure that your child has the best possible start to their school life.

Remember to stay positive, get organized, establish routines, get enough sleep, encourage independence, make time for physical activity, help your child make friends, promote healthy habits, stay involved with your child’s school, and stay attentive to their growth and development.