Do you have a child starting school for the first time this year? Take a breath – it’s a big step, but a little planning goes a long way. We asked parents to share their best practical tips for making the move to “big school” easier for everyone involved. Here are 20 practical tips from parents for your child starting school.
Starting a new school is both exciting and a little daunting for parents and children alike, but with some preparation the transition usually runs smoothly, and everyone settles into a routine before long. Many of these tips work just as well for children moving from primary school into secondary school.
Practical Tips From Parents For Starting School
#1. Know What’s Covered Before You Buy Anything
In Ireland, primary schools now provide books, copybooks and core workbooks free of charge under the free schoolbooks scheme, and secondary schools provide free textbooks too, often alongside items like school journals, dictionaries and calculators. These books are provided on a loan basis – they belong to the school and are returned at the end of the year – so there’s no need to buy or shop around for the books themselves anymore.
It’s still worth getting the booklist from the school as soon as it’s available, though, because there are usually a few extra items left for parents to provide, such as additional copybooks, art supplies or anything the school flags as not included. Some post-primary schools ask for a refundable deposit on loaned items like journals or calculators, returned once everything comes back at year end.
If you’re reading this from outside Ireland, schemes vary by country and school, so check what’s provided and what isn’t – and if you do need to buy items yourself, get them early, since popular sizes and editions can run low once term starts.
Whatever’s left on your list, sort personal stationery too – copybooks, pencils, erasers, colouring pencils or crayons are usually still down to parents. It’s worth keeping a little extra at home, since inevitably something gets lost mid-year and needs replacing at short notice.
#2. Cover School Books
Since schoolbooks in Ireland are typically on loan and handed back at year end, covering them properly matters more than ever – it protects the book for the next pupil, and can affect whether a deposit is returned in post-primary school.
Cover books with clear film or ready-made slip-on covers so children can still see the front cover to identify their book, and label the cover with their name so the teacher isn’t opening every book to work out whose is whose. Most schools keep books at school, so let a Junior Infant know this in advance – otherwise there can be tears when the teacher “takes their books away”!
Ready-made slip-on covers are usually much easier to manage than a roll of covering film, which gets fiddly fast. Some school suppliers offer a covering service if you’re ordering stationery through them, which can save time.
Getting Stationery & Book Covering Sorted
If you need extra stationery, art supplies, or want books covered before term starts, school suppliers such as Book Haven offer these as online or in-store options, with local collection or delivery available. It’s worth checking directly with your chosen supplier what services and offers are currently running, as these can change from year to year.
#3. Choosing Colouring Pencils
For younger children, twistable colours that don’t need sharpening are usually the easiest option. They come in packs of 10 or 15, are non-toxic, last well, and are generally allowed in schools when markers aren’t. Label each one with your child’s name so they don’t wander off.
#4. Label Everything
Label everything – clothing, bags, lunchboxes, coats, uniforms, pencil cases, pencils and rubbers. Children rarely keep track of who has borrowed what, and they often peel off layers for outdoor play or art, so labelling helps avoid mix-ups and the odd playground dispute.
Check every so often that labels are holding up. Iron-on labels can lift after repeated washes, and pen labelling can fade over time.
#5. Quick Method To Identify Bag & Coat
Even if your child can read their own name, chances are several classmates will have the exact same bag or coat. A fun key ring or luggage tag on the zip helps them spot theirs at a glance.
#6. Help Your Child To Help Themselves
Use the weeks before school starts to build independence – blowing and wiping a nose into a tissue rather than a sleeve, coughing into an elbow, and washing hands properly. If they need help in the bathroom, encourage them to try by themselves over the summer too.
It’s also worth practising taking shoes on and off, doing up a coat, and opening and closing a school bag. Being able to manage these small things gives children real confidence on day one.
#7. Choosing A Lunch Box & Drinks Bottle
Choose a lunch box and drinks bottle your child can open and close by themselves, and if you can, shop together so you can test this before buying.
Look for a drinks bottle with an extra cap over the lid to cut down on spills, and think about how easy each item will be to wash and keep smelling fresh over a full school year.
#8. Making Lunch Manageable
Several small containers within the lunchbox make lunch easier to manage – for example, a few crackers in one, some grapes or tangerine segments in another, carrot sticks, a cut-up sandwich, and a cheese stick.
This makes it simple for a child to grab something quickly and helps spread lunch across the day so they’re not starving by home time. A lunchbox with built-in compartments can work well too – just make sure your child can open every section on their own.
#9. Avoid Messy Snacks
Check your school’s lunch policy – most ask for healthy snacks and steer clear of anything that spills or drips easily. Many schools ask parents to avoid yoghurts in any form, since a spill in the bag can end up all over a uniform.
Think about smell too – nobody wants to be known as the child with the smelly lunch! And always follow any allergy guidance from the school; if your child has a serious allergy, let the school know in good time so staff and other parents can plan around it.
#10. Make Ahead
Making up the lunchbox the evening before and popping it in the fridge takes one thing off a busy morning. Another option is to keep a shelf or fridge drawer of lunchbox items your child can choose from to build their own lunch – it builds independence, and children are often more likely to eat what they picked themselves.
#11. Be Quick & Firm
Get to school in plenty of time, then keep goodbyes short – a quick hug, a “have a good day,” and head off. Try not to linger at drop-off; children pick up on a parent’s anxiety quickly, and once one child gets upset, others often follow.
#12. Allow Time To Settle In
Try not to worry too much over “nobody played with me” stories – it’s all new, and most children take a few weeks to settle. Friendships often shift during that first year too, so be ready for that.
Some children seem settled straight away and then become a little unsettled a few weeks in, as the routine really sinks in – that’s completely normal. If you do have concerns, ask the school for a chat with the teacher.
#13. Swap Numbers
In the first few days, try to swap phone numbers with at least one other parent. It means you’ve someone to call if you’re running late for pickup, and it’s a handy way to get to know other families for future play dates. Save the number in your phone there and then – no good on the fridge when you’re stuck in traffic!
#14. All Change
Get your child into the habit of changing out of their uniform as soon as they’re home. It saves on washing and general wear, and lets you catch any stains early with a quick rinse rather than discovering them at 8am the next morning.
#15. Take Care Over Birthday Invites
Many schools ask that invitations aren’t handed out in the yard unless the whole class is invited – it’s worth checking your own school’s policy. Swapping parent phone numbers (see tip 13) makes it easy to send invites privately by text instead.
Some parent groups agree an informal policy of a small, fixed cash gift in a card for parties the whole class attends, letting the birthday child choose their own present rather than parents guessing for a classmate they may not know well. It’s worth raising with other parents if it might suit your school community.
#16. Park & Stride
If you’re driving, try parking a little way from the school and walking the rest. It avoids the worst of the parking crush at the gates, and gives you both a few minutes of fresh air and a chat before the day starts.
#17. Check Their School Bag
Check school bags every day for notes or invitations – children often forget to mention them, so it’s worth asking directly whether anything came home from the teacher.
#18. Give Them Time
After a full day at school, children usually need time to decompress. Resist firing off questions the moment they appear, however tempting – wait for them to talk, and listen without jumping in. Having a snack ready helps too; they’ll usually be hungry.
#19. Have Routines
Most children thrive on order and routine. A steady morning routine, with a little slack built in for last-minute hitches, makes a real difference. Children tend to be tired in the first few weeks especially, so sticking to the usual bedtime routine helps everyone.
#20. Realise That You Know Nothing
Be prepared to accept that your child’s new teacher knows everything – even if you’re fairly sure you could give them a run for their money!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy schoolbooks for my child starting school in Ireland?
No – state-funded primary and secondary schools in Ireland now provide schoolbooks free of charge on a loan basis, so books are returned at the end of the year. You may still need to provide some personal stationery items, and post-primary schools sometimes ask for a refundable deposit on loaned items like journals or calculators.
How long does it take a child to settle into school?
Most children take a few weeks to feel fully at home in a new routine. Some settle quickly and then seem unsettled again a little later as it sinks in that school is a daily thing – this is normal. Speak to the teacher if you have ongoing concerns.
What’s the easiest way to help my child manage on their own at school?
Practise the basics over the summer – blowing their nose, washing hands, taking shoes and coats on and off, and opening their own bag, lunchbox and drinks bottle. Small independence wins add up to a lot of confidence on day one.
How can I make school lunches easier?
Prepare the lunchbox the night before, use small containers to split lunch into manageable portions, and choose a lunchbox and drinks bottle your child can open and close by themselves. Always check your school’s lunch policy for any restrictions.
Related Articles
- Tips For Buying School Books
- 10 Back to School Hacks
- 10 Not To Be Missed Lunchbox Hacks
- Tips for Starting School for a Child with Serious Allergies
- 13 Things They Don’t Warn You About When Your Child Is Starting School
- 10 Tips for Parents for a Successful Transition to Secondary School
Save These Tips For Later
Starting school is a season, not a single day – you’ll likely want to come back to these tips more than once. Bookmark this page or save it somewhere handy so it’s there when you need a reminder in week three.
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