Why Parents Need To Make Friends On The First Day Of School Too

Wed, 2nd Mar 2016

Make Contact with Other Parents:

While parents often worry about their children making friends when they start school, they often don't realise how important it is to make contact with other parents too. On that first day or during that first week of you child beginning their school life, try to meet other parents, get a contact list, maybe organise a coffee with a few mums. By getting to know eachother you will help your childs socialization outside of school. Playdates will feel more comfortable if you are friends with the other parents and sleepovers will be easier to manage. You will also communicate about what is happening at your child's school and in the their classroom. The friendships you make with your child's peers become invaluable and may become life long.

Article From the Age:

Here is an article that appeared in The Age on January 24th, 2016. I was written by Cosima Marriner......

Two years ago Lauryn Fontbin and Fiona Gray had never met.

But after their children sat at the same table at kindy orientation, the mothers have become such good friends that Ms Fontbin hosted a baby shower for Ms Gray.

"In the short space of two years we have become very close," Ms Fontbin said. "We do rely heavily on each other."

They remind each other when school notes are due, swap playdates, meet up at the beach on the weekend and have even been camping together. "School parent friendships have become really important for our sense of community," Ms Fontbin said.

Parents' biggest concern when their child starts school is whether they will settle in and make friends quickly, according to the poll. The strength of school parent friendships determines how comfortable a parent feels letting their child socialise with their classmates outside of school.

Nine out of 10 parents worry when their child goes to a friend's house without them, concerned they won't be there if their child needs them, or they are fearful their child may be in danger.

Kate Sanchez, the co-founder of social networking site schoolparents.com.au, said the increasing "drop and go" culture made school parent networks even more important.

"In the old days parents would walk us into school, talk to the teacher, work on the canteen, be there at the school gate in the afternoon," she said. "Unfortunately the reality is that [those parents are] few and far between now, which is leading to parents being a bit more insecure." 

The Galaxy poll found that although most parents would let their child have a sleepover at a friend's place by the time they were eight years old, 10 per cent of parents would never permit it.

Parents rely on other parents to find out what is going on in the classroom and playground, and sometimes even with their own child, because they don't always get this information firsthand. Seventy per cent of parents said their child told them only what they wanted them to know, and 50 per cent said their child didn't tell them what went on at school. A third of parents thought it was unlikely their child would tell them if they were unhappy at school.

Psychologist Justin Coulson said children whose parents got along tended to play together. "The best relationships are the ones built both at school and outside of school."

Ms Sanchez said most parents had an innate desire to be part of their child's schooling experience and make it good for them. "The child has better outcomes at school the more involved the parents are, if they know Mum knows other mums in the class, that is really important to them," she said.

In concluding, I would like to say personally, how rewarding and enriching my friendships have become with the parents of my children's friends. We all have a close connection and a similar standard of morals and discipline and expectations for our kids. Our communication is invaluable for keeping informed about our children, their classroom and learning experiences. We have all been camping together and shared so many wonderful memories with our children. These friendships can last a lifetime!

 

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