Parents can help kids prepare for school

The first day of school can be a lot of fun for many children, giving them a chance to meet up with friends they have not seen all summer.

For some children who are starting school for the first time, however, the first day of school can be a challenge. Parents can take a few steps to help ease the transition for children, according to Dr. David Fassler, a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Burlington, Vermont.

Even children who have gone to daycare have some adjusting to do, he said, because the school day may be longer. He added that school tends to have more structure, rules and expectations than day care.

"It can all be somewhat overwhelming," Fassler said. "It's important to make sure that the early school experience goes well because it sets the tone for how the child will feel about school in the future."

Among his tips:

- Talk to kids about school before classes begin. It may be helpful to describe what will happen during the school day.

- Consider bringing children to their school before the school year starts. If possible, show them around the school, including their classroom, the playground, the lunch room and the rest room.

- Getting children into a routine may help them get ready for school. Allow children to participate in decisions, such as what clothes to wear and what to have for breakfast or lunch.

- For children who are especially anxious about starting school, taking a few reminders from home, such as photos, may help put them at ease.

- Once school starts, make plans to spend time with classmates outside of school to encourage friendships.

- After school, talk to children about their day and give them positive feedback about what they say.

- Finally, parents should let children know that it is OK to be a little nervous about starting school, because everyone gets a little nervous when doing something for the first time.

"For most kids, school is a very positive experience," Fassler said. But he added, "It's certainly true that some kids have more difficulty than others" when they start school. Usually, this anxiety passes within the first couple of days or weeks, he said.

But if a child seems to be having difficulty adjusting - makes lots of calls home during the day or has physical symptoms like headaches and stomach aches - then, Fassler said, it may make sense to speak to the child's teacher or talk to a pediatrician or family doctor, who may make a referral to a mental health professional.

"Usually, these kinds of consultations tend to be relatively brief," Fassler said, and may involve some sort of play therapy to help understand a child's anxiety.

BACKPACK SAFETY