Young kids going to school.....first term. Your experiences (parents or grand parents).

[smokeysmoo]

Never had a single problem with Miss Smoo at primary school, she loved it.

Moved to secondary, (with lots of friends from primary), but just couldn't adjust. Anxiety got a grip and despite everyone's efforts she just couldn't handle the much larger secondary environment.

As a result we made the decision to home school her and things are much better now.

 

[chriswoody]

Here in Germany kids start school later, so my eldest has just started school this August at aged 6 and a half. She's taken to it like a duck to water thankfully and having a great time.

The school days are also very different here. She starts at 7:45 and goes through to 12:30, when she's finished for the day.

 

[gbb]

Even at 59, I clearly remember my first day at school...and it wasn't a happy one, lots of tears.
My kids went along ok, don't remember any dramas.
My second youngest grandaugher just started a week ago....she couldn't wait, totally excited by the prospect. Her two bigger sisters never had problems I seem to remember.

 

[postman]

I am 67 now and i remember my fist day at school as though it was yesterday.I clung to my mother i screamed, blubbed told her i hated the kids i even hated the teachers,when asking why i had to go in.She told me it was because i was the Headmaster.

OK I WILL GO TO THE CLOAKROOM AND GET MY COAT.

 

[keithmac]

My two love school, daughters just gone from Reception up to Year 1 and my lad's started Year 6 (looking around Secondary schools soon!).

They're both knackered, takes a bit of getting used to after the summer holidays!.

 

[screenman]

First day at school I went with the girl next door who was a year older, my parents were at work.

My 3 kids hardly missed a day.

 

[Tin Pot]

Around here (maybe everywhere) young children cannot stay for lunch but must go home and return after lunch.........that lasts for several weeks, till they settle down.
At the back of our house is a small park with various paths............we have views from the house.

Yesterday, there was a Dad with his very young (5ish) boy. The boy was carrying his school bag. As the school came into view it was as though "the penny dropped" that he was going back.............he stopped, looked up, his jaw dropped.........and he literally slung his bag, turned around and ran hell for leather in the opposite direction.
Dad was last seen trying to catch him.
Sad/moving but hilarious.

School has bit by bit destroyed the happy, laughter filled young boy my son once was.

One day we'll look back on school like we do FGM.

 

[BrumJim]

Each school has a different policy for first starters. Many do a very gentle introduction, half days for a couple of weeks. For my little one, the only concession was that on days 1 and 2, the parents were allowed to take the children into the classroom. On day 3, they had to say goodbye at the gate. And school lunches from day 1 too.
Mine loved it. Another child screamed. Mum ran off, saying that he would be alright when she wasn't there. Or at least be a long way away before the teacher realised that he wasn't!

 

[Alan Frame]

I well remember my first day at school, sitting on the teacher's lap blarting me eyes out like a wench!

She soon sorted that out with a Rowntrees Fruit Pastille though.

With this memory firmly branded into my memory, I dreaded my own children's first day at school, but they excitedly ran off into the school with barely a look back at me,or a wave.

I consoled myself with another fruit pastille.

 

[User482]

My eldest (now in year 2) was incredibly enthusiastic about going to school, something we actively encouraged. The night before her first day she came down with chicken pox, and subsequently missed the whole of her first week. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite so pitiful as finding her, on coming home from work, sitting on the sofa, dressed in her uniform, crying her eyes out and begging me to let her go to school. After that, we were very lucky because she had a brilliant reception teacher who firmly placed emphasis on fun, and she's loved school ever since.

 

[Jody]

My eldest started school 2 weeks ago. He had an absolute melt down when my OH dropped him off for the taster day, clawing on to her and refusing to let go. She stood outside and he remained upset. However now he has started he will go inside and settle OK much to her surprise. The first 10 days parents were allowed into the classroom while they got ready but now they go up with the teacher and the parents stay in the courtyard.

The first full week he got the headteachers star pupil award as the teachers said he was a pleasure to have about, helping out and having a great attitude.

Currently he will get up and pack his bag, get ready and is very enthusiastic about going to school, even asking if we can take him at the weekend. It probably won't last but its good at the moment.

 

[Electric_Andy]

My son clung to my leg on the first and second day and had a few tears, but the teaching assistant carried him in. He was fine once inside. He did half days for a week (am) and half days the next (pm), then went full time. He's now gone into year 1 and waltzed in through the doors like he'd never been away for the summer. Luckily he's very laid back about such things. I still find myself welling up when I take him to Football but it also happened on his first days of school. It's such a weird feeling. I can only describe it as a mixture of pride, anxiety, sadness and joy.

It's odd how we worry on their behalf, when often they are probably less concerned than we are. I think not letting it show is important. I was at son's sports day last summer and one little lad was getting upset every time it was his turn to run (or jump). His mother was a tearful, quivering wreck. Instead of cheering him on, she was looking to the other parents saying "he's hating this, hating it" which I think was not helping the little lad.

 

[Electric_Andy]

next day he went to the school pastoral care team informed them of the situation

Top lad

 

[summerdays]

It's odd how we worry on their behalf, when often they are probably less concerned than we are. I

You wait till they are teenagers.... going out and not quite coming back when they said... as someone said, it's actually easier when they are at Uni and you don't know that they are late back!!