A Child's First Year at School

For many parents the first born child is often the most challenging because every step of the parenting process is a learning experience. When a child reaches age four or five many parents begin thinking about school. Every state has their specifications, some things, however, will be constant.

There are no letters sent out to parent's of children born at the appropriate time to let the parent know it is time to enroll their child in school. Some places such as churches, apartment community laundry rooms, or grocery stores may have a posting about enrollment.

A common mistake people make is to try to enroll their children in school the summer before the school year is about to begin. Many schools will actually begin enrolling students as early as February.

There are some key factors for enrolling a child in school for the first time. First, the parents must be sure of their child's school district. Some cities' school districts are separated so rigidly that one side of the road is in one district while their neighbors across the street are in another.

The second important step is to ask that school districts enrollment office which documentation is required for enrollment, and gather that information. Some people do not have copies of their children's birth certificate, social security card, or shot records. These documents are commonly required for entry to school.

Acquiring The Documents

Many cities' have a Department Of Vital Records; this department will handle birth and death certificates. Usually only the parent's name and a form of identification is required in addition to the state's fee, to have the document prepared on the spot. The fee in many cities is under twenty dollars.

Social Security cards are available at the Social Security office of most cities. Most parents receive a copy of the child's social security card about two weeks after the child is born. If the card was lost, damaged, or destroyed the Social Security office should be notified immediately; that office will be able to provide instructions for a replacement Social Security card.

Shot records are easily obtained from the child's pediatrician. Some offices will require a small fee and a medical release form to obtain the child's shot record. Most offices will not charge more than ten dollars for a copy of the record. If the child has been seen by multiple doctors, a medical release form may need to be faxed to previous doctors to obtain a complete record.

When requesting the shot record it is wise to ask the pediatrician which immunizations are required for entry into school. This is especially true if relocating from a different state, nearly every state had different immunization requirements at different ages.

After all documentation has been collected, many schools require registration forms to be filled before the child is assigned a classroom with in their school. At this time the parent may be given an opportunity to ask about the necessary school supplies, student to teacher ratios, and other information that may interest the parent.

Many schools will send out notices to registered student with the yearly requirements for school supplies by grade, plus information about Open House. Open House is a great time for parents, students, and teachers to be acquainted.

Adjusting To School

At Open house parents can expect to receive a student hand book, forms pertaining to school lunches, emergency contact information, brief health assessment (to find out about medications the child may be taking, allergies the child might have, or medical conditions the teachers should know about), and sometimes a contract of conduct.

Besides getting a head start on the packet of paperwork required for many parents to complete for the child's first week of school, the Open House is a great chance to let the teacher meet the student and the parents, put faces to the names they have been reading through.

The first day of school is harder for the parents than the child most times. For the child it is a new experience to play with children all day and learn new things; for the parent it can be a melancholy feeling of realizing a child is growing up. However, seeing a child learn and thrive is the greatest reward a parent can hope for.