However, there are things that you can do to decrease the apprehension and to increase the anticipation. Children need to feel a sense of security about a new situation. One of the ways in which they develop this is through knowing what to expect. How can they learn this? There are several things you can do.

Call and find out if you can visit the school and see your child's classroom before school starts. Talk to your child about what s/he will do at school. Go shopping for school supplies and discuss how your child will use them at school. Share books with your child that talk about daily activities at school and that address children's fears about beginning school. There are many good books.

"First Day Jitters"
"First Day Jitters" (compare prices) is an excellent book for an elementary school student who is apprehensive about changing schools. This picture book was written by Julie Danneberg and published by Charlesbridge Publishing in 2000. Artist Judy Love created the comic and colorful illustrations in ink and watercolors. This is a funny book, with a surprise ending that will cause the reader to laugh out loud and then go back and read the entire story again. It's the first day of school and Sarah Jane Hartwell does not want to get ready because she will be going to a new school.

In fact, Sarah doesn't even want to get out of bed. When Mr. Hartwell tells her it's time to get ready for school, she says, "I'm not going." Sarah complains that she hates her new school, "I don't know anybody, and it will be hard, and...I just hate it, that's all." After much discussion, and no help from the family's feuding dog and cat, Sarah gets ready for school.

By the time, Mr. Hartwell drops her off at school, she is terrified, but the principal greets her at the car and walks Sarah to her classroom. It is only on the last page, when Sarah is introduced to the class that the reader discovers that Sarah is not a student but the new teacher! I have found that children get a kick out of the surprise ending and also find it reassuring to know that they are not alone in being apprehensive about the first day of school.