August 2004    Kids Decide What's on the Box

According to Staples, the UK’s number one retailer in stationery supplies, eight out of ten children starting school for the first time this year said that they would be more worried about what was in and on their lunch boxes, than meeting their new teachers. .

Donna Chappelle, Marketing Manager at Staples, explains: “Kids even as young as four or five are very image conscious and they’ll insist on a Harry Potter or Shrek lunch box rather than one that is functional, but not fashionable. The same is true of all the accessories that they need as they start out on their academic journey – rulers, rubbers, and pencils. They want to have everything just so, ready for the big day.”

As first day excitement builds for children starting school this September, Staples has collated a fact file containing helpful advice for children – and their parents – designed to help conquer any first day nerves. Donna advises: “The first day at school can be a confusing time both for parents and children. Even Harry Potter would have been grateful for some tips to take away the nerves for his first day at Hogwarts!”

She suggests a few useful tips to help make your child’s first day at school an enjoyable experience:
 

		Make the buying of the uniform, lunch box and pencils an exciting event by involving the children in the shopping experience and allow them to choose the items they would like in order to make them feel they are making their own decisions.
		If your child doesn’t know anyone in their class, invite a couple of their new classmates around to play beforehand.
		Eating and going to the toilet are the main things that children get anxious about, so arrange an advance visit, so your child can see the lavatories and the dining room.
		Try to arrange to meet the teacher before school starts, allowing them the chance to form a bond prior to joining the school.
		Try role playing at home before the start of term, where you become the ‘child’ and your child is ‘teacher’, as this is a fun way of showing children what to expect at school.