Foundation (Prep/Kinder) 2014 Chat

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We bought DSs school shoes yesterday - must have plain white sneakers and black school shoes. Went and got him properly fitted as he was a hip Dysplasia baby and had feet issues when he was younger so I am a bit of a decent shoe nazi as a result. However we got the ascent school shoes from the Athletes foot and some air flex sneakers from betts that are awesome.

Now to get DS to learn to tie laces!!

What's easier - the single or double loop??

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We've been practising this last week with a learn to tie your laces type book and DS has found the single loop (so not "bunny ears") the easiest. I thought he would find it easier the other way around!!

All set to go here, finally remembered the sports socks! We are practising with his lunch box, getting it in and out and which foods when. Plus refilling his drink bottle though I think he will be ok with that as they have bubblers anyway. Oh I do still need to label some stuff though I'm waiting on some labels to come in the mail which should have been here by now :think:

Got dj a shirt. Will try it on this week. Just need to buy two more shirts then build up to 5 shirts plus i'm thinking of getting plain black shirts for them to keep at school (incase he gets beyond messy. This friday we'll get shoes, socks and shorts. Oh and two tubes for our old pram, as we will hopefully get a propper push chair (a big pram/wheel chair for disabled older kids) found out his lunch box fits in his kinder bag which is really good. I think i'll lable 'snack'x2 and 'lunch' on the tubs and have his drink bottle labled too. Got a call about bus's so this week should get a time that we drop off/pick up at the bus. And confermed its a 9am start :redface: but we did miss the info morning due to Dj being really sick.
Only other thing is get more chewy tube and a packet of nappies and a hat (which may stay on ha) and ask about sunscreen & swimming too if we will need to supply swim nappies. In 10days my boy will be starting school....im so proud but feel so old too!

My son also just learnt. He also found bunny ears harder. Single loop seems the way to go. That's how I learned.
Oh and a weird tip, when you do the first granny knot, do it twice, or one more twist (hard to explain). Then it doesn't loosen like a normal granny knot and they don't have to put a finger on it.

I can't explain it well. But it does work and we do want to make it as easy as possible to learn. Maybe it's on the net or youtube too.

I had a bit of a cry this morning as I dropped DD2 at the CC centre for vacation care - it will be her last day there ever and also the end of our family being there after 7 years! It has been such a big part of our lives and was very sad to say goodbye to people who have had such a big impact on the girls lives.

DD2 did insist on using her new lunchbox today though which means that I have inherited the lovely fairy lunchbox from kinder to take to work with me :D

Oh Nai :(

DSs last day at CC is Wednesday, his best mate gave him a big hug today as we left as he won't be in on Wednesday :( luckily us Mums exchanged numbers. Think I might take a big tin of chocolates in for all the carers on wed

I think DD is going to miss him, she follows him everywhere, will see how she goes....

It really is such a massive change isn't it.... So much for them and us to adjust to. I am trying to think of a way to honor that. Not sure what I am wanting to do really, just a way of acknowledging for her and us, that she is stepping into a new era and stepping up into something that will have its own responsibilities. I am looking for a ritual for our family. Something special.... Any ideas? Am I being weird? Anyone else do anything special?

Well it hit me a bit tonight - in one week I will be preparing my DD's school bag for her first big day.

I am not ready. I will cry. I know it.

Where have the last five years gone?!?

(PS - Nai, I only really "like" the lunchbox bit of your post... ;) )

Edit- Bella, I think I get what your mean. When DD finished kinder (4yo preschool in Vic), I took her for a special graduation milkshake and cupcake, just her and me, and her bestie from kinder as I was picking her up too, lol. Is that the kind of thing you mean? Or something a bit more meaningful, lol?

Yeah could be something like that OP. I am not sure. I am considering fish and chips at the beach and ice cream. I wouldn't mind a little more meaning snuck in somewhere.... I don't want it to be to heavy tho. Browsing the Internet ATM to try to get ideas. Interested in what other families do as well.

Bella - I'd be interested in what you come up with :)

We were thinking of taking DS out for a milkshake, cake etc after school next week, just him and us, and then picking up DD from childcare an hour or so later - just to celebrate his first day too

DS had a trial run in is uniform and with his lunch box today, worked a treat.
Tying laces is proving difficult, we'll plug away :) The single loop seems to be easier

Another simple one is a photo taken the first day of school with a piece of paper or a board saying the year and what grade they are in on the front. Might to that as well.

Oh I like this. Not for a beginning school ritual, but just a connecting with her ritual....

"Gina Osher shares a ritual story about her sister-in-law on her blog. When the sister-in-law was first starting school, her mother helped her get over her fears by drawing a heart on her wrist each morning. Then, whenever she felt scared at school, she would look at the heart drawn on her wrist and remember that her mother loved her and was thinking of her.

As the sister-in-law grew up and became more confident, the hearts became less frequent. However, even when she was in high school and then college, her mother would draw a heart on her wrist whenever she had a tough exam, an audition, a job interview, and so on. When her mother passed away the sister-in-law had a small heart tattooed on her wrist as a tribute to her mother."

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Another simple one is a photo taken the first day of school with a piece of paper or a board saying the year and what grade they are in on the front. Might to that as well.

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Yes, I definitely plan to take a photo, I want to take it next to something that will really emphasise how much he grows each year, not sure what yet - perhaps the front door of our house!

Ohh, have been googling 'First Day of School Photo Ideas'

Lordy, am inspired now!

It hit me today that next week DS1 will start school, I got all teary!!! He has 3 days left at day care!!!! I am going to cry when he finishes cc as his teacher there has been awesome (DS2 has her this year but sad still lol)
Next thurs I will be a mess!! I will take lots of pics , I like idea of the piece of paper with grade and year on it!!!

I should try on his uniform! Still need to label them, and get 2 more tops when school gets order in.

We have lunch bag now it has 2 zips and walking with dinosaurs on front! And ninja turtle drink bottle!!!!

Now you've got me thinking I need to do a special photo lol. I will probably just take a pic in his uniform and leave it at that. It's DS's last day of kindy today. I think he's more excited about his birthday than starting school. For him, starting school is just a stepping stone to get past before his birthday lol. He keeps saying "I go to kindy, then I go to school and then it's my birfday". With the "birfday" said in a singsong voice and a little dance lol.

His uniforms have arrived at the school. DH will pick them up today and then I just need to label them.

With dd1 we took a photo on the first day and then last day. We took photos at home and also at the school gate.

I just do the standard photo for first day.

Feels odd this time around. DD2 has been going to Vacation care, so all new for her. Then we have a week off, then school starts.

Very slack with bags, shoes etc. Just wont have the time or $$ till next week. Hoping there is still some shoes around. Different bag can wait if need be, nicety rather than a must. Have to go through the uniform box and sort out what DD2 will wear, along with checking labelling.

We wNt and picked up DDs uniform needs today. A hat and some tops and a sports shirt. We got home and collected the mail, and there was a letter hand addressed to her from her teacher. Such a lovely idea! Very personal to. She was stoked to hear me read it to her. Some of the info is obviously for me, but it was all couched in a very cute message for her.