No first day jitters here

George starts school with help from mum Noreen, sister Rose and brother Jack. Photo / Bradley Ambrose

With their third child starting school this year, Noreen and Mike Stevenson have learned a few things about planning for the big day.

The trained teacher and her network designer husband have told George, 4, what to expect when he starts at Gladstone Primary in Mt Albert, Auckland.

They've raved about learning to read and write and told him there will be playtimes too.

They've checked how long it takes to walk to school from home, and George has been to the playground after hours to get used to his new surroundings.

His brother Jack, 12, who goes to St Peter's College, and sister Rose, 11, who will attend Marist College, have helped him write his name and talked up the milestone.

Noreen has bought a recipe book full of healthy and nutritious snacks and will encourage Jack and Rose to bake so they have a daily treat in their lunchbox.

She usually packs fruit and rolls or wraps filled with food such as ham and salad as the main lunch.

But she will get Jack to eat fruit before he leaves for school this term - after finding five rotten apples in his bag at the end of last year.