It's as easy as ABC, 123 ...
If you have a 5-year-old starting school this term, perhaps you would benefit from our ABCs of school for parents just as much as your little one has mastered their ABCs before taking on the world, one new entrant class at a time.
Here we have an ABC of top tips to help you, and your young child, jump into their school career.
A is for attitude - your child learns from you, so make sure that you talk positively about their upcoming school experience. Don't talk about the end of the holidays as being a bad thing, but help your child look forward to the new term.
B is for breakfast - it is hard to learn anything on an empty stomach, so make sure your child has the best start to learning each day by making sure they eat a nutritious breakfast before school.
C is for confidence - be confident in your child's ability to cope just fine with their first day. They will take their cues from you, so if you believe in them, they will believe in themselves.
D is for dates - make sure you know all the school term dates and times; each school can vary slightly, so don't assume it is the same as another school nearby.
E is for environment. Help your child by making their home environment a healthy one for learning. Don't leave it to just school hours, but make everyday tasks such as shopping an exercise in simple maths (how much does that cost?) and spelling/writing (get them to help make shopping lists).
F is for friends. Get to know your child's friends. Learn their names and encourage their friendships. Making friends is a skill we all need throughout life.
G is for games. Playing games as a family is a great way to learn valuable skills such as taking turns, sharing and counting.
H is for homework. Make sure your child has a sensible place to do their homework, with space and no distractions. Help them to do it by guiding, not giving them the answers.
I is for illness. If your child is sick, keep them home. They can't learn when they don't feel well, and germs can spread quickly in a classroom.
J is for jumpers, and hats and bags. Whatever your child wears or takes to school - name it, or you are likely to lose it.
K is for kryptonite. Even superman had one thing he couldn't beat. So don't let your child feel they have failed when they struggle with one subject or area of their learning. Instead help them to work out strategies on how to deal with it.
L is for listen. Take the time to really hear what your child is telling you about their day. Put down your laptop, phone or book and pay attention to what they want to tell you.
M is for Miss, or Mr or Mrs or Ms. Whatever your child's teacher is called, be prepared to hear their name a lot. You are no longer the sole source of adult wisdom for your child.
N is for newsletter. Most schools have them, so always read them and keep them somewhere useful as this is how you can stay up to date on what your child needs or has coming up in their class.
O is for orange. Be it apple, orange, banana or kiwifruit. Make sure your child has some fruit in their lunch box as a healthy snack.
P is for praise. Praise your child for their good behaviour; it is easy to take it for granted, but they need to receive praise for following rules and trying their best.
Q is for quality time. School can be yet another demand on a busy life, so make sure the family still gets the chance to have quality time together; try going for a walk or bike ride as a family, eat dinner together and don't rush bedtime.
R is for reading. Your child may only just be learning, but one of the tricks of raising a reader is to role model it yourself, so make sure the adults in your house are seen to read as well. Don't let your child see reading as just a chore, but as something that is fun to do.
S is for sports. Not every child is going to love cross country or athletics day at school, but they can all give it a go and try their best. Encourage your child to participate and teach them how to be a good winner and a good loser.
T is for teachers. They do a fantastic job, so don't forget to say thank you occasionally.
U is for uniform. Some schools have them, others don't. If your school has one, make sure you are aware of the rules so you can help your child follow them.
V is for volunteer. Without class helpers, your child's classroom will struggle. So if you are able, offer to help with reading, or sports, or gluing in worksheets.
W is for why. It is the favourite word of many a 5-year-old. Try to answer honestly, don't just brush it off. And if you don't know why the sky is blue or martians are green, don't ignore the question, but show your child how to find out the answer.
X is for ignoring. Look at the ticks in your child's workbook, not the crosses. Praise the successes rather than focus on the wrong bits.
Y is for you. You are one of the most important tools your child has in their education, and they need you to teach them how to be a good student.
Z is for zzzzz; making sure your child gets a good sleep is important. Tired children can't learn as well as well-rested ones. So cut out TV close to bed time, and ensure your child has a good bedtime routine to help them learn during the day.