How can parents support their child during the first weeks of school?

the first weeks of school

A young woman with black hair in front of a yellow background.

The start of school

Many children look forward to finally starting school. This new stage also brings changes to the family's daily routine. While arrival times were more relaxed at nursery, the school day begins promptly every morning. A regular evening routine allows children to start the day feeling rested. If you lay out clothes and prepare the snack together in the evening, the morning starts with less stress and there’s time left for breakfast. Afternoons at home include tasks like helping with homework, practicing reading and math, and packing the school bag together. In the early years of school, children rely especially on their parents' support. School provides the foundation. However, for children to gain confidence in reading, writing and arithmetic, regular practice at home is useful. Just fifteen to twenty minutes every day is enough to read a few lines, write a few words and solve one or two simple math exercises. Don't compare your child with others, because every child develops at their own pace when facing new challenges. Patience and kind words help children stay motivated to learn. In addition to learning, starting school brings other changes, such as planning family holidays around school breaks. Some parents of primary school children also need suitable childcare during the long summer holidays. It takes a while before everything falls into place and routines develop that ease everyday life.

A smiling boy in a striped shirt against a blue background.

Tips for more independence

Even before starting school, children gain valuable experience through play, family life, and interacting with others. These skills provide a strong foundation for entering school. Such skills include language, social, and motor abilities, as well as being able to dress independently, count, and use scissors and pencils with ease. Parental support during the first weeks of school gives children the security they need to find their way in everyday school life. The following suggestions will help your child gradually master everyday school life.

A little boy putting on his socks before school.

Choosing clothes
‍Pick out the next day’s clothes together with your child in the evening. This saves time in the morning and helps your child practice making decisions.

Getting dressed independently
Give your child enough time each day to get dressed and undressed on their own.

Learning to tie shoelaces
Show your child how to tie a bow. See more here.

Jacket and bag area
Having a designated spot for jacket, gym bag, and school bag supports your child in staying organized both at home and at school.

Avoid mixups
Putting stickers or symbols inside your child’s shoes helps prevent mixups when other kids have the same shoes.

Forgotten item of clothing
If your child left something at school, give them a short note for the teacher, ideally with a brief description of the item.

Developing a sense of time
Talk about time in everyday situations: »We’re leaving at 7 o’clock.« Using a clock or hourglass helps children experience time more consciously.

Pack tissues
A small pack of tissues belongs in every school bag, especially during cold season.

A child is washing their hands with soap.

Talking about hygiene

When children start school, they encounter many new situations. This also includes finding their way around the school and using the toilet on their own. A good approach to hygiene helps children manage everyday school life. That’s why it makes sense to talk with children about hygiene and the steps involved in using the toilet. This includes leaving the toilet clean: using toilet paper properly and throwing it away, flushing, and then washing your hands thoroughly with soap and drying them. At school, children use paper towels instead of cloth towels to dry their hands. After drying, the paper goes into the bin. Talk about hygiene rules: sneeze or cough into your arm, cover your mouth when yawning, blow your nose properly and throw away the tissue afterwards. Reminders like »Please wash your hands after using the toilet« help children remember these routines.

So that nothing gets lost

Everything without a name often disappears or gets lost. This happens, for example, when a child forgets their sports bag on the school bus or doesn't pack their lunch box into their school bag. It makes sense to label all clothing like jackets, sports gear, and hats, along with other belongings, with the child's name. A name ensures that lost items are returned to the right child. Labels that stick or iron on work especially well. These are also available online, already personalized with the child's name. Waterproof textile markers offer another option for labeling clothing. Children usually bring home whatever has their name on it.

Copyright for content and images
Our content is protected by copyright. You are welcome to share it by providing a link to our website, so others can read the content directly on our site. You are allowed to use the headline or a few words of introduction to refer to the content. Copying full texts, sections, or images, as well as unauthorized posting or use without permission, is not allowed. Please respect the effort that goes into our content. Violations can be tracked and legally pursued using modern technologies, including AI.