This week is a very exciting (and also a little scary) week as the twins are due to start full time kindy tomorrow. It always seemed like such a long time away, I can hardly believe that day has now come. They have had a few trial 3-hour trial runs and loved it, so really I shouldn’t be worried. Maybe I am more worried about myself missing them too much? It will be interesting to see how they (and I) will go, being away from home for 2,5 days a week.
Most kids love school holidays but for the twins they couldn’t end soon enough, they are just so excited about finally going to ‘school’. They talk endlessly about the kindy rules as explained by the teacher, one of them is to write your own name on the attendee list upon arrival. So the twins have been busy practicing their writing skills, in their mind even perfect is not good enough. Crayons and pencils are for babies, pens are for ‘big kids’ and holding them correctly is the key. Yes, I have heard it all this week!
Our Paper Mate InkJoy pens have had a great workout this week, pink for miss 4 and bright blue for master 4. Unlike with other pens there was not much scratching as the ink comes out easily and they write smoothly, the kids thought they were awesome. So awesome that they have already packed their pens in their backpacks for tomorrow.
Tommie’s first letter to Opa (Grandad)
No writing today, we are just enjoying their last day at home with games, yummy snacks and lots of laughter. I am signing off for today! (If your kids would like some InkJoy pens in their backpack too make sure you enter our little Paper Mate giveaway below).
To find out more about Paper Mate visit and learn all about the Paper Mate InkJoy visit www.inkjoy.papermate.com.
For your chance to win 1 of 3 Paper Mate gift packs (RRP $20) visit www.inkjoy.papermate.com and answer the following question: What is your top tip for the first day of kindy?
Submit your answer by leaving a comment below, your email address will not be published.
If you really want to win you can earn up to ten additional entries, please leave separate comments for each entry:
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Competition ends November 8, 2012. Sorry, Australian entries only. By entering you agree to our Terms & Conditions.
212 Responses to “Back to School giveaway”
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Know that even though they might cry while you’re still there, they’ll stop the minute you leave. Promise.
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make sure they don’t forget their hat 🙂
pack something special from home in their bag, that way if they feel a little sad or lonely they have a little friend to cuddle or a pleasant memory of home.
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as painful as it is, a quick kiss and hug goodbye then leave, they are fine as soon as you leave the longer you stay the more chance of tears 🙂
Once you get them inside, a quick kiss and hug and then off you go to where ever you need to. they will make friends and have a good time once you leave
Remember… your Mum hid tissues down her top for a reason.
There’s no harm in continuing the tradition!
P.S. I’m sure a Paper Mate gift pack will add a bit of ‘InkJoy’ to their backpack (or yours!)
could not tweet it told me i couldn’t bad page did everything else
i visited;earlybirds;jumpsuit , lookingatyoukid;Hide & Seek The Party Frock (Watermelon);
avidiva;Kicky Pants – Bamboo Dress – Orchid / Natural Dot Print
i love papermate great for my grandchildren they love doing art
Put a photo of the family on their bag so that when they miss you they can go to their bag and see you :)) Make it detachable so that if they need to keep hold of it.. they can!
Don’t linger. Hand them over to the teacher. Give them a big hug & kiss ( the child not the teacher) and tell them that you will see them at pick up time.
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http://www.sustainababy.com.au – Apple & Bee Eco Tote
http://www.hootkid.com/ – Ra Ra Legging – Candy Pink
http://skiptomylou.com.au/ – Dandelion Tully Tulle Skirt
LITTLE OBSESSIONS – Tyrrell Katz Ballet Wash Bag
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Don’t hang around too long. It’s easier on everybody if you kiss them goodbye and leave fairly quickly.
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do not cry when you drop then off and never go back to have a look drop them in the room settle them a little and no matter how hard walk away smile no matter what happens let it out in the car its a breeze after this
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i ment twitter sorry
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i really like
http://www.havocdenim.com/product/girls-denim-crop-jacket
i like looking at your kid
http://www.lookingatyoukid.com.au/products/Hide-%26-Seek-The-Party-Frock-%28Beige%29.html
I made a little keepsake for him to put in his pencil case, so whenever he misses me he can look at it.
Children are very perceptive! Little ones will pick up on your anxiety, so relax! Be positive and put a great big smile on. If you still feel like crying try to save it until your child goes inside!
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Talk to your child excitedly about Kindy and all the fun things they will be able to play with a do. Tell them stories of how much fun you had when you went to Kindy. My daughter was so excited and was having so much fun on her first day she didn’t want to stop what she was doing to give me a kiss!!!
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From sponser Little Obsessions I love the Le Toy Van Honeybake Oven and Hob set
From sponser Nana Clair’s Gifts I love the Bobble Art Small Gloss Bowling Bag Woodlands
From sponser Avidiva I love the Calfy Paddie Rider
From Sponser Gr8x I love the Cindy Double Sip Satchel in Black
I let my daughter choose her own lunch box and school bag and she felt grown up. Talking about what kind of things i did as a child at kinder made her feel less nervous just letting your little one know what to expect is the key i think.
If were confident and not nervous they feel better!
Ensure you’ve booked yourself a massage, a facial, a pedicure and a mani…oh, do you mean for the kids??? Oh, a nice confident farewell wave alwasy works a treat!
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love Humble Bumble Doolittle Dress – Mustard from Little Boo-Teek
love Way To Go Harem Pant from hootkid
Tell my little one there’re lots of friends in kindy, who will play with him. When I leave him, he might cry, but he will be fine soon because he loves playing with other kids.
My top tip would be not to look back after saying goodbye!
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Don’t show your child that you are nervous about leaving them, or it will make them feel uncertain about the whole experience.
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For Walls Jungle Friends at Little Boo-Teek is lovely.
Old West Tan Toddler Boots at HootKid is so chic
Love 5 Piece Melamine Meal Set Farm Theme at Nana Clair’s Gifts
Kicky Pants – Bamboo Velour Coverall With Hood and Ears BARK is one of my favourites too.
Love ’em & leave ’em… and make the most of your “free” time 🙂
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Don’t put too much hype into the first day. Sometimes, we as parents, think that we’re doing the right thing preparing our kids by talking about their first day every waking moment of the day, but when the day comes, sometimes the kids find it all too overwhelming. Sometimes it’s best just to play it down a bit & let them find their feet, as everything will fall into place.
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Try not to make a big deal about it – stay light and positive – then have a little cry at home – and enjoy the peace and quiet 🙂
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Love the Ravensburger Solar System Puzzleballs – set of 8 planet puzzles from Little Obsessions
The MudPuppy Magnetic Dress Up- Monsters from Whimsy Child looks fab!
Kiniki Monster in the Woods Tee from Skip to My Lou would suit my boys 😉
my lego mad boys would love the “blocks” calculator from Rudy and the Dodo for their desks!
Go in with them to find their feet – where everything goes etc,then kiss, cuddle, I love you and leave!
From Looking at you Kid – Dandelion Party Dress
From Sustainababy – Chemical Free Kid (book)
From Rudy and the Dodo – make your own creature (by fidoodle, canada)
From Australian Girl – Matilda
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Keep in mind that it is probably going to be more traumatic for you than for your child
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Taking a little friend (Teddy, Bunny, Dolly etc) to go with them to make them feel more secure.
Love the ‘Australian Girl’ Doll – Emily
Love the Tiger Tribe Wooden Boxset Barn House from Little Obsessions
Love the Pull Along Deer Lillifee from Bright Button Toys
Love the Adan + Anais Star Light Dream Blanket by Little Boo-Teek
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Add a little photo of your family so your child can see you when they open there lunchbox for recess or lunch.
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Make sure you take plenty of tissues!
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You will have heaps of fun playing with the other children and draw me a picture to bring home to put on the fridge.
Do not let your child see you get upset. Once you leave them cry all you like but not in front of them.
Prepare them before by doing activities based on kindy, read kindy books and let them pick out the outfits, bags and lunch boxes
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Wear sunglasses, because your gonna cry!
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Love Matilda doll from australiangirldoll
Love Girls Allegra Ruffle Dress
bring a box of tissues cause it gets emotional
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Leading up to the first day, I talked a lot about how much fun they would have, what kinds of things they would do, reassured them I would be back later to pick them up, made the idea of their own schoolbag and lunch box exciting. There were still tears, but they knew what to expect.
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They will forget you as soon as you walk out the gate. You will always feel worse than them
Don’t wait inside or outside the classroom. A “drop and run” method is best for your little one…and for you!
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Create a sticker reward chart for those kids a little reluctant to go or worried about separation. Worked a treat for us!
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My Sticky Biz – GIRLS BRIGHT PINK TSHIRT SISTER
Australian Girl Doll – Matilda doll
Rudy and the Dodo – make your own puppets (by djeco)
Skip To My Lou – Kiniki Utility Sweat Pant
Don’t let them see you cry – it will only upset them.
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If you need to cry, save it for when you get to the car!!
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never look back
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Prepare in advance. Talk about what will happen at Kindy and build some excitement so on the day your child is looking forward to going. Reassure that mum will be there to pick them up and find out about all the fun things they did.
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Be strong, keep the tears to yourself till after you leave and then go to a cafe for a coffee 🙂
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My top tip for the first day of kindy is a social story, so that they are aware of what is happening before it happens, so it’s not a big surprise or a big rush as it can be a very confronting and confusing time.
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TISSUES!
so sad so much tears, not the kids its YOU
Getting them excited about meething all new friends!
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Loving Travel Nest at Earlybirds…
Loving Small Address Labels at Sticky Biz…
Loving Stroller Strap at the Gr8x!
Loving Matilda at Australian Girl…
My First day at Kinder Tip is to give them a big kiss then walk out and then go home and have a nice strong coffee!
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Dont cry in front of them
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Send them off with a yummy lunch and best wishes!
Sneak their favourite toy into their school bag so when it gets to lunch and they get their lunchbox out they’ll have a bit of familiarity to comfort them especially if the day so far has been a bit stressful.
Just remember out of sight out of mind. Sometimes you just have to walk away.
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Be organised so you have lots of cuddle time in the morning 🙂
Liked and subscribed. My children have an affiliation with stationary for some strange reason or another. Better stationary/pens than lollies…and not they don’t eat it…they just love to write and draw 🙂
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Always drop off your child with a happy smile so they remember you leaving happy.
Make your goodbye sweet but short and don’t look back, no matter how heart-wrenching it is!
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Remember the camera!
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passage of life
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I visited 4 of your sponsors.My favourite items were: 1.’Little Obsessions’ Tiger Tribe Wooden Boxset-Barn House,2. ‘avidiva’ I’mToy-CalffyPaddie Rider,3. ‘Gummy Babies’-Gummybabies Luxury Gift Box, 4. ‘Havoc Denim’-Girls New York Ruffle Play Suit.
First day of Kindy,leave your day free so you can keep popping in and checking on them to keep your mind at peace.Make sure to only keep them there for a few hours so that they know that you will return for them and they will become secure in the knowledge you are not too far away.One day they won’t want to leave and that’s a good thing.
Take a day off and stay near kindy so they know you are near!
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Aden + Anais – Organic Muslin Fitted Cot Sheet – OASIS is my favourite at Avidiva!
FLATOUTbearbaby is my favourite at Sustainababy.
Da Vinci Art Cabinets are my favourite at Art Eater.
Belle Doll is my favourite at Australian Girl!
Involve the father in your little one’s first day of school
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