Recognizing the first day of school can be stressful for families, surround your kids with words of encouragement.  Regardless of age, the first day of school represents a transition from a known and comfortable environment into something unknown.  Reminding your children of past successes can help alleviate their first day of school anxiety.

As I prepared Ellie, our youngest, for her first day of kindergarten, she wiggled and fidgeted.  Ellie was nervous about her first day of school, making friends and the entire education experience.

My husband and I started to pray and ask God for guidance on how to support her in her first day of school fears.  Recognizing the importance of kindergarten success in establishing a positive outlook on school, we began surrounding Ellie with words of encouragement.

She has always been a bundle of energy so we began to focus on the adventure she would begin on the first day of kindergarten.  We talked about how much fun she had at preschool and reminded her she was anxious before starting her first day of school there as well.  Despite her nervousness, she made lots of friends, loved her teacher and had a great time.  We discussed how much fun she had at Sunday school, swimming lessons and with dance class even though she had been nervous before they began.  We also reminded her of how well she had done and of all the people she got to know in those venues.  Ellie started to relax and bounced off happy to select the right first day of school outfit for her new venture and the kindergarten success that awaited her.

The first day of school can present some interesting challenges in preparing children for entering a whole new realm of experience.  Parents can do a lot to ease the first day of school transition, though, by reminding the child of their past successes and surrounding them with positive messages.  Encouraging the child to soar into new ventures will help them succeed at every new endeavor.

Even though you can’t go to school with your child, the encouraging and supportive words you’ve spoken to them will be there with them to bless them on every first day of school and throughout their lifetime.

Thumbuddy children’s books, kid’s music, preschool curriculum activities and soaking music that reminds kids and adults of God’s constant love and presence blesses families and helps them to live abundant lives – confident of God’s good plan for them.