Embracing back to school.  So many children tend to feel anxious or a little afraid of the first day of school.  There are many new experiences, teacher, classes, friends and for some kids, a new school. It can all be quite overwhelming!

Here are some tips to make the first day a good one:

• Reconnect: Spend the weeks prior getting back in touch with some of your child’s or children’s friends from last year.  This will eliminate any self-conscious or awkward feelings that exist when kids have not seen each other for a while.

•  List your lunch: Sit down with your child and together, create a lunch chart.  Have them list some of their favourite lunch box items. By getting them involved in choosing their lunches, they are more likely to eat them. Try to have them pick 5 items from each of these groups: snacks/treats, vegetables and/or fruits, sandwiches and/or hot meals that go in a thermos. This way, they have an item from each group for each day of the week.

• Fashion fortified:  Help your child pick out their “outfit� for the first day (this is best done the night before). That way they have some time to think about it and have one less thing to be concerned about the next morning. My kids always pick out their clothes the night before school.  This way they can dress faster in the morning and there is no last minute “where’s my favourite dinosaur t-shirt?� to deal with.

• Lock ‘n learn. Spend some time with your child practicing opening their combination lock for their locker. It can take quite a few attempts to get the hang of it.

New school? 

Here are some tips to making the transition to a new school a little less stressful:

• Get acquainted. Try to contact the new school and inquire about students that may be in the same grade as your child and perhaps, live near you. You can set up a play date or two before schools starts so that your child will see a familiar face on the first day.

• Map it out! Arrange a tour of the new school so that your child is familiar with the layout and this will give him or her a better idea of where their specific grade’s classrooms will be.  At the same time, take note of where the washrooms are located. This is something that can relieve a lot of anxiety in a child that is new to a school.

• A special something. If your child will be using a locker at the school, make a special trip to the dollar store nearby to find some fun items with which to decorate and personalize their locker.
Lunch box sensations: Here are some fun lunch box additions that will make for a healthy and appealing school lunch. 

Yogurt parfait: cut up your child’s favourite fruit into bite sized pieces and place at the bottom of a resealable container. Top it with a few spoonful’s of vanilla yogurt (or any other flavour you prefer).  Top the fruit with some cookie crumbs, chocolate chips, raisins or granola. Put the lid on and don’t forget to include a spoon!  *If you use granola, make sure that it does not contain any nuts products.

Pick ‘n mix: Take a resealable plastic bag and mix together a few of the following: pretzels, cereal, raisins, chocolate chips, dried cranberries, mini cookies, fish shaped crackers and mini marshmallows.
Sub in a snap! Wrap a sub roll or two slices of bread in plastic wrap. In a resealable plastic container put some sliced vegetables like cucumber, red pepper, lettuce, olives and tomato. Alongside, put a few slices of cheese, some deli slices or leftover cooked chicken. When your child gets to school they can make their own sub! If they have a favourite spread, like cream cheese or mayonnaise, put a dollop into a small resealable container.

Tasty taco: Pack a couple taco shells or soft tortillas in a resealable plastic bag.  In three individual resealable containers, place three different fillings. Choose from tomatoes, shredded cheese, beans, diced chicken, shredded carrots, lettuce and red pepper strips (again, or any filling you prefer). Kids get to make their own Mexican masterpiece. Some kids may appreciate the addition of salsa!
Please do not forget!  Schools today generally have a peanut-free or nut-free environment.  Some other sensitivities that may need to be taken into consideration include eggs and fish. Ask your child’s homeroom teacher or the food manufacturer if you are unsure of any of your ingredients.

T ’was’ the night before school started…..

Aim: a relaxing evening with your child or children to help release some of the stress for the start of school the next day:

Method:

1. Take some time to plan a special dinner for the night before school starts.
2. Encourage each family member to contribute a favourite dish.
3. Get everybody involved in preparing the meal, by giving them different tasks.
4. When the food is ready, sit down with your child or children and take the time to ask them a little about how they are feeling. What concerns or fears they have. Try to provide them with some reassurance and positive thinking.

Result:  A child that can walk into school on the first day of the school year with a smile, a fabulous lunch and a positive attitude!

Wishing you and your children the best of luck for a stress free first day, followed by a school year filled with new experiences and  friends and a year of abundant learning.

Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy� - classes for kids that  offers them the opportunity to  experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art,  food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.  

(c) Shelley Sefton 2011

Tags: activities, back to school, children, creativity, imagination, kids, new school, Shelley Sefton, tips, transition