9 Tips to Get You Ready for Your Child’s Back to School Open House

If you have a child who will be entering school for the first time, then you are probably gearing up for your child's first back to school open house night. For many parents, this night might be a bit intimidating. The good news is, many parents feel that way. (Especially parents of preschool and kindergarten aged kids.) Even better news? There is no reason to feel that way. Your child's school open house is the perfect time and place to get to know how your child will begin his or her educational journey. 

If you are wondering how you are going to survive the back to school open house night, we have got the perfect guide for you. Here is everything you need to know about your child's school open house night. More importantly, this guide will fill you in on what to expect and what questions to ask when you meet your child’s teacher for the first time. Let's get started.

If you are a little worried about the back to school open house, don't be. If it sounds a bit intimidating for you, know that this is the same feeling that many other parents have had when they experienced their first back to school open house. The good news is, back to school open house night is not as scary as you might think. For the most part, the scene behind most back to school open house nights across the country are the same. The first thing you need to know is that your expectation of the evening may not be the same as the reality. Here are some of the most common things that you can expect out of your child’s back to school open house.

One of the main purposes of your child's back to school open house night is for you to get to know the teacher. You will not be the only one getting to know the teacher. Your child will as well. The back to school open house night is an informal opportunity for the three of you to meet for the first time. For the most part, teachers will generally introduce themselves. This will include a brief background of who they are and how long they have been teaching for.

Depending on the school, the setting, and the structure, the teachers introduction can can vary. Some teachers will be able to sit with you one on one to get to know you. In other instances, it might be a whole group deal where the teacher introduces herself to the parents all at once. You kind of have to play it by ear.

Teachers love putting a face to every parent. You will have the opportunity during your child’s back to school open house night to introduce yourself too. As a matter of fact, you will want to take advantage of this opportunity. When you get to know your child’s teacher, this will help build that teacher parent relationship that is crucial in any child's educational career.  

Your child is not the only one who will be entering an unfamiliar environment. One of the biggest fears that parents have when they send their child to preschool or kindergarten for the first time is the fear of the unknown. Your child's teacher is not only there to welcome your child but you as well. Feel free to ask any questions that you have about your child's new school. If there are any concerns that you have, now is the best time to bring it up.

Another great thing about your child’s back to school open house night is the fact that you will get an understanding of your child's routine. You can expect that your child's teacher will go over a detailed schedule with you and her future students. Getting an understanding of your child’s schedule will help better prepare your child for what their days will look like on their first day of school. Not only that, but it will help you get an understanding of what your child’s day looks like as well.

Another expectation you can look forward to on your child’s back to school open house is getting to know the building. You and your child will get the chance to see what it is that the school has to offer. This is extremely beneficial if you have a child with high anxiety. Getting to walk around the building and see their room will help them gain a sense of familiarity for when they do it on their own on the first day of school.

For some schools, you will be able to get the opportunity to check out other parts of the building including the music room, the cafeteria, and the library. If you are unsure whether or not you can visit these locations, all you need to do is just ask.

One of the best parts of back to school open house night is the fact that your child with get a feel for his or her new classroom. For many preschool and kindergarten classrooms, teachers encourage students to explore their new room. When your child gets to explore the classroom with you by their side, you can help ease the transition for when you are not there. Letting them explore will take away the mystery of what school is. For many children, that mystery is associated with fear. Luckily, when they get to explore their classroom, that fear can easily get dissolved.

If there are any health and medical concerns that you have regarding your child, then the back to school open house night is a great time to bring them up. Let your child’s preschool or kindergarten teacher know about any medical conditions that your child may have. Some of these conditions can include things like food allergies, medications, and any other medical conditions your child’s teacher should be aware of. It should be noted that your child’s teacher may ask you to go to the nurse and confirm the information with them as well. However, with many schools, it is common to collect any necessary medical information beforehand. It is typically collected during your child’s enrollment process.Regardless, do not be afraid to bring up the issue again when you meet your child's teacher at their back to school night open house.

One of the most important aspects of your child's educational experience is communication between you and your child's teacher. Communication between teachers and parents is vital. Whether it be about upcoming field trips and fundraisers or just your child in general. When you go and meet your child's teacher at back to school open house night, talk about the different methods of communication with parents. Your teacher may already have a program for like Classroom Dojo or Remind to keep up with what happens in the classroom. If not, let your teacher know what the best method of communication is when it comes to passing along information. 

Your child’s back to school night does not have to be terrifying for your or your child. Use some of these handy tips to get your back to school groove on without a fuss. Getting the chance to meet your child’s teacher and get a feel for the school in general will set your child up for success in their educational career. Good luck!

Related Article: The Ultimate Guide to Your Back to School Shopping