It’s OK to be afraid.

Share with your child what your first days at school were like or what an older brother or sister experienced when he or she first went to school.  Be sure to include what helped in each situation.

If your child wants to, let him ask an aunt, neighbor, friend or grandparent what his or her first-day experience was like. If you are part of that conversation and being afraid or nervous doesn’t come up, be sure to ask specifically whether the person had any fear, nerves or concerns and how he or she handled it.

You could also use first days at work as a way to talk about being afraid.