5 Steps to Preparing for a GREAT Sendoff on First Day of School

July 8, 2010

Preparing for the first day of school can be exciting, nerve-wracking and more. In fact, you and your child are likely to experience a host of emotions as you get ready and prepare for the big day.

Fortunately, by following a few simple steps, you can ease the anxiety and help ensure that you and your child have a great sendoff on the first day of school:

1. Lay things out the night before.

It’s vital to lay out clothes, pack lunches and prepare backpacks the night before the big day. In doing so, you’ll avoid the morning chaos that can come from trying to pull everything together when you’re crunched for time.

2. Enforce bedtime.

While it can be tempting to let your child stay up late or veer from his bedtime routine due to back to school jitters, don’t. It’s imperative that your child is well rested for his first day of school.

3. Wake up a few minutes early.

Set your alarm a half hour earlier than you normally would to allow yourself a little extra time should any morning mishaps occur. Get yourself completely ready prior to waking your child, so that once he’s awake, you can give him your undivided attention. The first day of school is not a day that you want to be running late.

4. Serve a nutritious breakfast.

Kick of the school year by serving a healthy and nutritious breakfast. Consider making eggs and toast, and serving it up with fresh fruit and yogurt. Children who eat a healthy breakfast tend to do better in school.

5. Leave enough time to get to school.

Whether you’re walking or driving to school, leave yourself a few extra minutes to get where you’re going. With school bus drivers on new routes and crossing guards directing traffic, it’s a good idea to leave an extra 5 or 10 minutes to get to the school. If your child is taking the bus, be at the bus stop 5 minutes early so that you’re sure he doesn’t miss the bus.

Preparing for the first day of school doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little planning and advance preparation, you can be sure that your child has a relaxing sendoff on his first day of school.

With her background as an International Nanny Association Credentialed Nanny specializing in caring for multiples, Michelle has been partnering with parents in raising their children since 1994.

With her extensive experience in newborn, infant and child care, and with her passion for setting herself apart from her peers by providing top-notch service, Michelle is regularly called on by the most popular parenting magazines and websites to share her knowledge and expertise. She has been featured on Parents.com, Parenting.com, and BabyTalk.com and regularly contributes to ModernMom.com, Momtastic.com, and other popular parenting websites.

Michelle has contributed to TWINS Magazine and wrote a chapter for the best-selling Experts' Guide to the Baby Years. Michelle has also authored four books of her own entitled, Nanny to the Rescue!, Nanny to the Rescue Again!, Working Mom's 411 and A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists. She also co-authored Beyond Parenting Basics: The International Nanny Association’s Official Guide to In-Home Child Care.

Michelle is an active member of the nanny and baby planner communities. In 2004, Michelle was honored as the International Nanny Association Nanny of the Year> and received accolades from President George Bush for her dedication to improving quality in-home child care. Michelle serves on the advisory board of the International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals and has served on the board of directors and as vice president of the International Nanny Association. She has also served as the executive director of the International Nanny Association and as a trainer for The Academy of Coaching Parents International.

Michelle currently serves as the editor in chief of Longhorn Leads, managing the content across their portfolio of care related sites including www.eNannySource.com, www.GoNannies.com, www.NannyPro.com, and www.4Nannies.com, in addition to serving as the executive director of Morningside Nannies, the company’s award-winning placement agency.

Michelle is a national speaker, bringing a message of hope and empowerment to moms groups across the nation. She and her husband Jeff, reside on Cape Cod with their daughter, Abigail, and their son, Luke.