😕 Do you remember the day your eldest child first went off to school? How did that feel, sending them off into the big unknown to be looked after by an almost complete stranger? What if they had a terrible time? Or what if they loved it so much more than being at home?!
I've always tried to be quite involved with my kids' education, going to the playground with them some days and getting to most of their parents' evenings, etc, but I know for some Dads it's harder to get involvced and school can become "Mum's domain" leaving Dad rather aloof, maybe even feeling useless. What's your experience?
My eldest is going off to reception in January and we feel rather nervous for him, or maybe for us as he seems to be looking forward to it.
We have been working with him at home and he goes to Nursery a couple of times a week. I have to say though that I feel apprehensive for him. Never thought I would feel that way. Just have to see how it all goes.......
He has started at school now, started on Friday last week.
He is still a little anxious about going but getting used to it. I must say though that I have seen a change in him already, just in how more confident he seems.
Well after a few days of being anxious, he seems to have settled into the school routine well. So starts the rest of his schooling. I found it very useful to visit the school a couple of times prior to him joining and they also had an hour come and visit session prior to starting which helped him to come to terms with school.
Zaden - cool man.... are you going celebrate the first week on Friday? I remember going for a pizza with mine - we had great fun and its memory making stuff!!
Zaden - i like the fact you are so into this - i often feel that most of my mates aren't/weren't really bothered about their kids first day at school - I took the morning off when mine started and we all walked to school as a family. It was fun and made him feel important that i had put my work day on hold to be with him on such a fantastic day. Did you read the article First Day at School http://www.dadtalk.co.uk/articles/first ... school.php
My youngest started pre school on tuesday, its a whole new season in our family life.....
Ronaldo - i like the idea about pizza esp the value it communicates- i see a family outing happening tomorrow night...
Ronaldo - We actually bought a cake after his first day of school - which he really liked. It made me feel like he had grown up, even though he has only reached 5 (where has time gone)
Freerunner - I did read that article prior to him starting and it made me feel like wow, he is growing up! How did it go with your youngest? Do you feel like you have more free time, now that the youngest has started at school?
We are finding the new routine difficult to get used to. When he first started nursery it was a new routine which took us a while to get used to and now another new routine which will take us a while to get used to. It is all good though as we watch him grow up.
Exciting phase my friend - i remember feeling slightly bereft that my kids where growing up and didn't need me..... Of course they actually needed me all the more... but then thats the funny thing of fatherhood eh
I think it's great that many fathers are involved these days. When I drop my children off at school (usually once a week), I see quite a number of Dad's doing the same.
OTOH, I would say the main thing is to be involved where you can. My wife is far more involved than me, but I try to find time to talk about school with my children, be interested in what they are doing, and encourage them in the things in school that they enjoy. I've heard a good number of anecdotal stories about how much difference it makes simply to be positive about the things your children enjoy and are good at. Make time, be interested, encourage what they enjoy 🙂
When it comes to young children heading off to school you might like this...Found this interesting article here about guestering helping develop childs speech, seems it could be really helpful in child development http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/02February/ ... peech.aspx . Really interesting stuff hope other people like it!