Starting Reception

[Moos]

How's it going for everyone?

Such a big milestone for parents and for children both.

My small loves school so far, and is having a great time. However, now in his third full week he is starting to get super-tired, not only after school (as I expected) but also in the morning. This is making him a bit trying, and in the last 24 hours I feel as though I've been constantly nagging or negotiating with him to get him to eat supper, have a bath, get to bed on time, get dressed, get to school... Oh, and not lose my temper in response to his provoking me. Mixed success there... not cool.

So my new strategy is to give him super-easy eat-with-your-hands food for dinner for a while, and set the food battle aside for a while, be very vigilant with bed-time, and, well, just try to find a bit more patience.

But all that aside, it's all good! School is fun. Am loving hearing all the songs they sing, and fragments of what he gets up to.

[Pickle]

I'm glad to hear that Moosling has settled in well.

My boy started last Thursday and had two days where I picked him up after lunch, and is full time this week. He's doing really well and seems happy, but is also very tired (already!) and was hard to rouse from bed this morning. I've given in to the fact that all he's capable of after school is watching tv for now, but hopefully as he gets used to it we'll be able to do a bit more.

Although I do feel he's ready for school I have found myself really missing him during the day, lunchtime especially is very quiet with just me and my daughter at home.

Hope others are doing well.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

You could try a bright/fun kitchen timer and see if he can perform a task (eg, clean teeth, get dressed) before the bell goes. Boys can be quite competitive.

[samstopit]

My son is loving it so far but has been asking me 'why do we need to be on time mummy?' Of course he's never had to think about this before and doesn't really understand what this means. School is just so ... punctual! I'm sure we will get used to it and I'll get better at organising him in the mornings. Poor child was frogmarched up the hill this morning saying 'are we late mummy?'

[Moos]

Pickle, I know what you mean, I get very excited picking up the little guy every day. I go back to work soon, but am fortunate that I'll be able still to pick him up every day. I've learned to give him a little space and time after school without plaguing him with lots of questions, though I'm longing to know bow it was.

PGC - thank you, great idea. I guess he'll get the stamina he needs in a few weeks.

The punctuality thing's hard, isn't it? A bit late for nursery was no big deal, but I dread our being Late For School.