WPs of MOOKS - first day of school

[cjeanette]

We both always take the kids in the first day and walk them to their classrooms. We then go to work.

[rootbeerfloat]

We don't do before care. I walked DS to his classroom for YEARS, but DD ran out of the car on the second day lol.

When they started K, they started with half days (and couldn't go to after care), so I picked them up then. But as soon as it was possible, I didn't pick them up.

[cjeanette]

Jun 13, 2016 14:27:24 GMT -5 @mrswindycity said:

Jun 13, 2016 14:23:59 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

I don't think taking him and picking him up for the first day is odd at all.

I'm thinking more about the "here is what we are doing today but you will NOT be doing this on any other day" message. lol. I don't feel weird actually taking him, but only that the next day, when things are different and I do go to work as normal, he will have navigate on his own, if that makes sense.

Overthinking it.

If you think it will confuse him you can use day 1 to walk him through how it will work going forward.

[hocus2]

I take off the first day of school. At our school there isn't really a compelling reason do it thoght unless your kid is in K becasue they don't go for the full day until day 2 or 3. Children are never walked to their rooms at school. In K they are gotten from the auditorum and in older grades the kids line up in the yard as they would on any other day.

When both kids are past of the K stage I still plan on taking the first day off to volunteer (e.g. chair the welcome breakfast, help with school supply issues etc), take the home early instead of sending them to afterschool and geneally enjoy what is often a really nice day. I also take off the last day of school though I could find a sitter or have friend pick up. If my vacation time gets tight then I could cut these nice-to-do days.

[savan]

We never used before school care so I always took them. I did have them go to after school care on the first day. I wanted to set up the routine and didn't feel much need to pick them up early. I was way more invested in walking them into the classroom that first morning than being there right when school got out.

[jeaniebueller]

I usually walk DS into school the first day to make sure he remembers which class is his new class, and then head to work after that. After that, he does the school's before care program and then walks himself to class and the school's after care program.

[anna7602]

We all went as a family on DD's first day of first grade (DS, DH and me), even though that's not the norm for every day.

I can't remember anymore what we did the first day of second grade, just that I posted about it here asking and now have zero recollection of what actually happened.

[dcrunnergirl52]

When DD and DS1 started kinder at their elementary school last year, we just let them have a normal day. Dropped them off at before-care and picked them up at aftercare. But, we did drop them off a little later than usual and pick them up earlier than usual. The first few days, the teachers and others really look out for the kinders and new kids to make sure they knew the routine so I wanted to be sure they were part of that.

[speckledfrog]

It's very common for parents to take part of the day off for the first day of school. At MH's job all of the people in his division with elementary school kids stay home that morning. I'm not sure about the middle school and high school parents. It's a special day and I think it's fine to treat it like one.

[lolalolalola]

DH and I always take the kids to school on the first day. We just follow their regular routine after school though. So, we just go into work late, we don't use vacation time.

[nicolewi]

DD1 is anxious about new things, so I for sure took her the first day of kindergarten. Going on the bus and finding her teacher in the chaos on the playground (they did have helpers to walk them, but still!) would have been overwhelming for sure. For first grade, as an old pro, she just took the bus.

I would probably take part of the day off for the first day at a new school, just to help the transition into school and make sure all is well. I would maybe just go late to work if he can just go home the normal way.

[pooh8402]

my parents walked us to class on the first day of school every year until I was in 5th grade, even though we went to before/after care thereafter. in my case, they went so they could explain to the teachers about my hearing impairment and how to use my FM system. I think they stopped walking my sisters to class about 3rd grade or so (I was a delicate flower).

walk him to class if you want.

[InBetweenDays]

At our school the vast majority of people walk their kids in on the first day. We've done it every year and our kids are finishing up 1st and 4th. I generally take it as a half or full day vacation day.

I agree that you're overthinking it being worried about the message it sends. He'll understand that this was a special occasion for his first day. We don't do before school care but our kids schedules vary almost daily. Some days they go to choir before school, some days DD has patrol, some days we have early meetings and they go to a friend's house, some days we're running in just as the bell rings, etc. They have no problems adjusting and understanding.

[ijack]

Jun 13, 2016 14:28:25 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

Jun 13, 2016 14:27:24 GMT -5 @mrswindycity said:

I'm thinking more about the "here is what we are doing today but you will NOT be doing this on any other day" message. lol. I don't feel weird actually taking him, but only that the next day, when things are different and I do go to work as normal, he will have navigate on his own, if that makes sense.

Overthinking it.

If you think it will confuse him you can use day 1 to walk him through how it will work going forward.

This. We definitely always drop off on the first day of school. And I'm pretty sure we usually pick up too even though the nanny does that every other time.

[formerlyak]

I take a half day on the first and last days of school so I can pick him up. I figure there is no point taking a full day because what would I do while he is in class. But if I pick him up on the first day, I get a jump start on filling out all the start of school paperwork. And by the last day, he is done so I pick him up instead of making him go to after care.

[pinkdutchtulips]

I'll go in late the morning of the 1st day so I can be there for the morning of but she can go to afterschool care and hang out w her friends there

DD will be entering 2nd in the fall

[caramia17]

My H and I both took the day off and we plan to drop her off and then go on a day date and reminisce about how fast the time has gone.

[ECB]

I can't remember what I did exactly. He took the bus (HE wanted this! Been beyond excited for years to finally take the bus) so I definitely was there for that. I know i went to work. Don't recall if I came home early or not, though, TBH.

[robot]

My H walked her in on the first day of K (so he just went to work a little late that day). So did most of the other parents. DD goes to before care all other days, and it was not a problem at all to do something different on day 1.

[sunshineandpinot]

Jun 13, 2016 14:24:41 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

We both always take the kids in the first day and walk them to their classrooms. We then go to work.

This. Then they do whatever they will do for after school. So dd rode the bus last year home from school.  On the first day, I took her but she rode the bus home bc I wanted her to learn the rules and I knew they were going to be strongly introduced on the first day. 

[Marmee]

I don't work but I don't even walk them in on the first day. They get dropped at the curb at carpool just like any other day. No school supplies to bring in even because I ore order and have them delivered to the classroom. I will walk in this Fall and take pics but only because it'll be DD4s first day of school ever.

[zarapipe]

Dh takes the girls to school but I did this year on her first and last day of K. I plan on doing it as long again next year.

[auntie]

I always let DS take the bus. I walked him to the stop and picked him up there at the end of the day.

DS's elementary has extra folks on hand the first day to help get the kids where they need to be; so it's really better to need help day one than day two.

Our public elementary sends buses to the local preschools for a practice run and there's a "Meet Your Teacher" classroom visit a few days before school starts which helps kids figure out where they're supposed to be. It's great because you can bring the supplies in that day as well.

Before they hit middle school, they have a day visiting in the spring and the district drops off a bank of lockers for them to practice on starting in April.

[SpartanGirl]

My kids walk to school so on the first day I just walk with them (if I have a Kindergartner). The kids play on the playground before school starts so a lot of parents hang around to take pictures. We're not allowed inside the building so that's where it ends.

Some parents put their kids on the bus and then drive themselves to the school to get pictures of their kids walking in with their teacher on the first day.

If you want to go, go. The first day of kindergarten is pretty special.

[penguingrrl]

I'm only recently back at work, but we have always gone as a family to drop the kids off for the first day of school. Instead of using the drop off line we park and walk them up to the building and take a few pictures.

This coming year H won't be able to join us because it will be his first day back after a vacation but I will probably drive them instead of taking the bus and park and walk them up. Unless my 4th grader is too cool and won't let me, which is a distinct possibility.

We aren't allowed in the building, so we say goodbye at the door no matter what.

[sweetbrier]

I make her breakfast and walk her to class. She takes bus home. Normally, she buses it to school and eats there. I think going in later is a good compromise unless you just want a day to yourself, which would be awesome. Like mani/pedi and eating delicious food without sharing. Could be nice

[lala]

I think you have to find out what is normal at your school. Dropping off in the classroom is not normal at ours. Taking the bus is the highlight here - my first grader would have hated getting dropped off & picked up b/c she'd miss the bus. In first grade there was nothing for me at school that day. However, the first day is always early dismissal, so again, something to look into.

[ribollita]

I have blocked the day for now on my calendar but plan to work, I just want flexibility at this point. We were specifically told to NOT drop off because they have special helpers for the bus routes the first few days only. Our school will have three days with the kids visiting before K though so he will know what to do. I'm excited for him!

[somersault72]

I always just go in late to work the first day of school. No need to use a vacation day (unless you want to!).

[mrshandy]

We both took DS in the first day of K. I teleworked. We were planning on walking to school, but had to drive because I broke my ankle over the weekend.

Another good reason to walk him in and why we'll do it again this year even though he's going to before care is that he has a ton of stuff to carry in for school supplies and our school doesn't do early dropoff of stuff. No way he could carry all of that.