Expansive green spaces, colorful activity rooms and the cheery atmosphere make it the perfect school for your kid. If only you could get him to run in with the other kids and enjoy the new experience. Your little one’s afraid, he won’t leave your side and you can hardly blame him for being fearful and anxious. Cuddling his fuzzy baby bear, watching his favorite cartoons and dancing with his mommy to funky tunes, he was safe and carefree at home! The pressure to now be independent and away from home makes him bawl and wail!

Getting your child to school can be a daunting task; worse still when you watch other kids hop right into their classrooms. You can make this a smooth transition for your kid with a few advance preparations. Listen to what it is that he is afraid of, his concerns and apprehensions. Show him that you understand him. Here are a few things you could do to prepare your little one for school.

En-route:
Take him on a drive to his new school.  And while on your way there, show him the toy store, the sweet shop and the tall avant-garde building that looks up to the skies. Once he is familiar with the route, he’ll look forward to going there. Do a little research about the landmarks along the way, so that you can give him some interesting facts and trivia.

Visit the school

Visit the school:
Ask the school for permission to walk around the campus and maybe even sit inside the classroom. Most schools understand this request and allow parents to take their kids on a tour of the school premises. Tell him how the colorful posters on the school boards and your new desk fascinated you, when you first started school. How you made your first friend in school and how you enjoyed doing fun activities together with the others. Your experiences are sure to have an impact on him and will help him feel a lot more confident about dealing with his new condition. This also familiarizes the child with what would otherwise be a completely alien environment on his first day at school. It also helps build a positive association with the surroundings.

Mix and Mingle:
Knowing that your friend lives in the new city you are moving to, can be a great consolation. The thought of confronting the unfamiliar is not as frightening then. It’s the same with your kid. Before he begins school, have him meet kids from the neighborhood. You can even invite the kids over for a little party. Have blocks, puzzles and drawing activities for them, so that they enjoy playing together. If your child recognizes a friend in school, he will be a lot more comfortable.

Practice:
At school, your little one will have to wash his own tushie and even eat his food by himself. Practice with him and teach him to do his work with confidence. Don’t be too harsh with him, appreciate his efforts and encourage him. You can even introduce him to some fun learning games, so that he is not bewildered on his first day.

Ask your child about his day at school and get to know his friends. Make sure that your child is not being bullied by other children, as this can affect his self-esteem and he might not want to attend school. Just stay positive and don’t fret too much about your little one, else he might feel nervous and scared. It may take some time, but he will eventually adjust to his new school, friends and teachers.