Hi, I'm Debbie, a family photographer based in Bristol. If you're dreading full-on mornings, feeling daunted by all those big emotions your pre-schooler is experiencing, and you're wanting to capture natural and relaxed 'starting school' photos, read on.
Starting school is such a big moment in your family's timeline. As a mum myself, I know it only seems like yesterday you were welcoming your darling newborn baby into the family fold. Yet here you are, facing the bitter-sweet chapter in every motherhood story, that of starting school. How are YOU feeling about this big change? It can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking time for both you and your children. The good news is, I can help!
Having worked in schools across Bristol for many years, and having navigated Reception year as a parent, I want to share how you can successfully negotiate the first few weeks and months of primary school life. Read on to discover what you can do today to ensure a smooth transition for your littles.
All of my recommendations below are genuine. They are not paid ads or affiliated with anyone, they are just genuinely awesome resources that we really like.
1) Learn about school through books
School is fun! And since children love story time with their family, use books to provide opportunities to learn (and talk) about the joy of starting school. Learn together about the glorious gallery of artwork that will come home EVERY day and how uniform will get caked in mud, paint, grass stains and playdough!
Visit your local library and choose stories that feature your favourite characters. Titles that got the thumbs up from us include:
Topsy and Tim: Start School
Starting School by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Harry and the Dinosaurs Go to School
Starting School (First Experiences with Biff, Chip and Kipper)
One book for parents I can recommend is The Starting School Book by Sarah Ockwell-Smith. It covers everything you need to know when preparing yourself, your family and your child for school.
2) TV can be your friend, too
TV time can also help your child learn about what to expect from school life. And if, like me, you have a role-playing enthusiast on your hands, try watching shows like Topsy and Tim and then use the storylines to inform school-based role-play.
To help you get your playlist underway, BBC iPlayer has helpfully curated great CBeebies programmes and games to help children get ready for school.
3) Get uniform-ready
Get your child involved in choosing their uniform, school bag and lunch box to avoid getting it wrong, my little girl literally recoiled at my suggestion of buying school trousers for winter! Check with the school exactly what uniform you need (some don't require a PE kit in Reception) before making any purchases.
If you love a bargain, be sure to check out the second-hand uniform shop at your school. You will save a fortune and since the clothes are in great condition, they'll last you the year.
A year ago I had no idea how much uniform to buy, so I thought it would be useful to share what works for us. Put a spare set of uniform in your child's school bag, because sometimes school is too much fun for a toilet break! :
3 jumpers or cardigans
6 dresses, skirts or trousers
6 shirts
1 school coat
More socks or tights than you think you'll need (where do they disappear to?)
1 pair of school shoes
If you're lucky enough to have access to forest school, you'll need to add wellies and waterproofs to the list. And if you plan on buying a uniform adorned with the school logo, do so way ahead of time. The rush at the end of the summer holidays is real my friends!
Lastly, once you have your uniform at home let your child get used to how it feels by letting them practice wearing it around the house.
4) Label all the things
While we are on the subject of clothes... My advice is to label EVERYTHING! Shoes, clothes, water bottles, snack boxes, hats, and glasses. If your child is taking it into school write their name on it. Whether you use a permanent marker, sew-in tags or sticky labels (we use Petit Fernand), if you want to be reunited with the MANY items your child will lose over the school year, label it. Rope in your child to help attach the labels. I mean, did you ever meet a 5-year-old who doesn't love stickers?
5) Join the class WhatsApp group and organise summer playdates
This is a brilliant way to connect with fellow parents and carers. Some of those mums will have children at the school already and will have valuable insider knowledge on uniform, the PTFA and after-school provision. If your child's school haven't instigated a class WhatsApp group, I would strongly recommend you suggest it.
I remember feeling so unbelievably awkward standing in the playground during our first 'stay and play' session. But, I put my big girl pants on and with the wonderful resource that is the parent WhatsApp group, I plucked up the courage to reach out and organise some summer play dates with other families from my daughter's new class. And the loveliest thing is my little girl has struck up great friendships with those first summer play dates. And I am now blessed with fab new mama friends too!
6) Talk about how you are feeling
In the lead-up to starting school emotions will likely be running high in your family. And I don't just mean in your children! Anxiety, worry, uncertainty, excitement, and nervousness are all normal feelings to be experiencing leading up to a big change.
Give your child the tools and the opportunities to explore feelings safely. I made a simple feelings wall in our kitchen for the whole family to use, a visual aid that helps us express our feelings safely. You can keep it simple by drawing the key feelings (happy, sad, worried, angry, excited) on a piece of A4. Pin it up on the wall for everyone to use.
You can also read some fantastic books to open up discussions and activities around feelings. Our favourites are:
My daughter and I still read these books now when we are facing tricky times. Have a go at using them alongside sensory and creative activities such as drawing, playdough, small-world play or sand play to support your child's emotional literacy.
7) Enjoy the summer!
Mama, this is your reminder to go ahead and enjoy the summer holidays with your pre-schooler. Never again will you have this family time. Make a bucket list of all the fun things you and your little one want to do together and tick them off as you go.
8) Encourage independence
Encourage them to become school ready. Most early years teachers would encourage you to spend time teaching your child to do simple tasks for themselves. Things like putting their shoes on, going to the toilet by themselves, washing their hands, getting dressed, putting their coat on, and using a knife and fork are all life skills that will help your child to feel confident when they get into the classroom.
9) Establish a school day morning routine
Isn't it the best feeling when you get your family out the house on time? So my suggestion is to create a school morning routine and practice the hell out of it. Create a simple visual timetable (use stick people drawings) that breaks down your morning into steps to help keep your family on track.
Practise every step of your routine in the lead-up to the first day of school from getting up and eating breakfast to putting on uniform and walking to the school gates. My daughter and I did this throughout the summer holidays and it was really fun! It made those first few days and weeks so much more manageable for the whole family.
10) Do the first-day-of-school photos BEFORE the big day
Starting school is such a big rite of passage and it's one we all want to document. So my biggest tip for first-day-of-school photos is to take them before the first day.
To get natural, relaxed and meaningful back to school photos be sure to include:
- all the little details (hair bows, ties, new shoes, school jumper logos),
- shots that show your child's character
- creatively framed images of your little one to show how small they are (this is sure to give you ALL the feels).
- at least one photo with you in it. You are an important part of this chapter in your motherhood story.
Don't want to miss the starting school photos? If you are a Bristol mama, I'd love to come over to capture relaxed, natural and joyful photographs of your little one before their first of primary school. I offer doorstep sessions and in-home family sessions to help you freeze all the little details of this exciting milestone in your motherhood story. Get more details here.
11) Use a transitional object
This can be a family photo, a special keyring or a lavender-scented handkerchief, basically something small from home to help your child feel connected with you when you are apart. My daughter carries a (very tatty) photo of her family in her book bag and some days I write her a little love note and pop it in her snack box. I even made a little felt heart badge and pinned it to her school bag.
The book The Kissing Hand is a must-read about a little school-aged racoon. Thanks to the story we have a little routine whereby every morning (and before she goes to sleep) I place a kiss in the palm of her hand and she raises it to her heart. Honestly, these small gestures of love and connection can work magic when it comes to your child saying goodbye.
12) The first term is exhausting, so allow for reconnection and downtime
Juggling school with your work life and family commitments is HARD. So during the first term be kind to yourself as you all adjust to this new routine. Don't feel you need to add to your load with after-school clubs and activities.
I know we mums have a trillion other things to do post-school pickup but if you have the capacity, try to spend 30 minutes enjoying your child and reconnecting with them. Sensory activities such as playdough, kinetic sand or water play can take the pressure off you a little, I set mine up at the kitchen table while I prepare dinner. But, if your little ones want to relax in front of the tv after a hard day of playing and learning that's okay, too.
Back to School Photography Sessions
I offer first-day-of-school and back-to-school photography sessions to families in Bristol. Mini sessions last up to 30 minutes and takes place in your front garden, porch, or front doorway. Or combine back to school photos with a longer family photoshoot. It's a stress-free, fun and meaningful way of capturing relaxed and natural back-to-school photos of your little ones without the panic of getting out of the door on time. Sound good? Tap the button below for more details.