How to Calm Nervous Children: What to Expect on the First Day of Elementary School

If your elementary school child is nervous about the first day of school, one of the things that you can do to help them be more comfortable is to go through what might happen on the first day of school, from the beginning of the day to the end.

First Day of School: Finding Seats

When children arrive in their classroom on the first day of school, they can expect to be greeted by their new teacher and told to find a seat. Teachers will most likely have put name tags at the seats so your child will know exactly where his or her spot is, and won't have to worry about finding a friend to sit next to. You should tell your child to ask the teacher if they are having trouble finding the seat with their name, and she will help them find it.

First Day of School: Introduction to the Teacher

The first thing the teacher will probably do is to introduce herself, telling her students a little bit about how long she has been teaching, her favorite things about teaching, and maybe even a little bit about her family or pets.

First Day of School: Learning Classroom Rules

Even for students who have been in school for a few years, one of the back to school activities that is sure to take place is learning the rules of the classroom. Let your child know that these rules are probably going to be a little different from other classroom rules they have had in the past, so they should pay attention to learn and follow this teacher's rules.

First Day of School: Get to Know the Classroom with a Tour

Another thing that is likely to happen on the first day of school is getting a tour of the classroom and all the stations and areas set up in it. Many classrooms have things like cubbies for backpacks and lunches, coat racks for when winter rolls around, and bookcases and reading chairs. Children can also find out where special bulletin boards are that have things like homework assignments, or calendars.

First Day of School: Recess and Lunch

Assure your child that on the first day of school, they will get recess and lunch times. They need to pay attention to any rules they are told about these times, and follow them carefully. If your child is unfamiliar with the lunch procedure at the school, assure them that they can ask their teacher about where to go to buy lunch, or where the cafeteria is.

First Day of School: Make New Friends

A common thing to expect on the first day of school is making new friends, and your child should be excited about this opportunity. Make sure to remind him or her that there will be children there who are new to the school and don't have any friends in the class, and that they should make sure to be friendly and remember that the new kids are really nice too.

First Day of School: Learn Something New

Lastly, there is a good chance that some actual teaching will happen on the first day of school, so make sure your child is ready to get back into learning mode after summer vacation!