First day of school: how to prepare your child with a story

Published October 15, 2026 · Updated October 15, 2026 · Christian Søndersted, founder of Flipr

Tell your child what happens on the first day of school, in the order it happens, and let the child be the main character in a short story that shows them succeeding. Start by listening to what the child is uncertain about, instead of just promising that everything will be fine.

Six moments on the first day of school where a story helps
Moment	What the child is often uncertain about	Story idea
Drop-off at school	Parting from you in a new place	The child's teddy bear waits in the bag and keeps an eye out as you wave from the gate
The class and making friends	Approaching someone they don't know	The child asks "What is your name?" and "Do you want to play?" and gets a yes
Recess	Finding someone to play with without adults	The child finds a game where everyone is welcome and discovers there is room for one more
The bathroom and finding their way	Knowing where to go	A friendly guide shows the child the bathroom, the cloakroom, and the playground
After-school care (SFO) and pick-up	Knowing who is picking them up and when	The story has a clear sequence: school, SFO, and then you arrive
The trip home and tiredness	Many impressions and an overtired body	The child talks about the day on the way home, and the dog listens

The school bag is packed in the hallway. Your child has said they are excited. But last night, just before the lights went out, it came quietly: "What if no one wants to play with me?"

You know it will be fine. But you also know that "it will be fine" isn't the answer your child is looking for.

Flipr is an app where your child and your family become regular characters in personalized stories with pictures and narration. You write what the story should be about, and it's ready in under 2 minutes.

This post is part of the guide How to prepare your child for something they are uncertain about.

What are children actually uncertain about when starting school?

Most children are excited. In the Children's Council's survey of 966 kindergarteners aged five and six, 87 percent answered that they were looking forward to starting school, 8 percent didn't know, and 5 percent were not looking forward to it. The survey is from 2013, but it shows what children say themselves, and that is what the story should be based on.

At the same time, many children had concerns, especially regarding social aspects:

Friends. About one in four children doubted whether it would be easy to make new friends or thought it would be difficult.
Teasing. 30 percent thought they would be teased at school.
The boring and difficult. 26 percent thought school would be boring, and 34 percent thought it would be hard.
Small practical things. In interviews, children emphasized how important it was to know where the bathrooms are.

The Children's Council also points out that children who know someone in the class or know which school they are going to seem more likely to be excited. This is a correlation in the numbers rather than proof of cause, but it is a good reason to visit the school and talk about who the child will meet.

Six moments on the first day of school where a story helps

Here are six moments where children often need help, and what you can ask for when creating the story.

The table above shows the six moments and story ideas.

The Children's Council report refers to research indicating that it is often easier for children to participate in adult-led settings than in free ones, such as recess and SFO, where they have to manage social interactions themselves. Therefore, recess is a good place to let the story start.

Write what the child is uncertain about, and Flipr creates the story. Include the child, siblings, and the pet so they appear in all your school-start stories.

How to do it in four steps

Listen first. Børns Vilkår recommends starting by listening and asking about specific things. Try: "What do you think happens during recess?" The answer reveals what the story should be about.
Visit the school and narrate the day in order. Walk past the school and find the playground. Then narrate the day: the gate, the classroom, recess, SFO, and then you arrive. The Swedish health portal 1177 gives the same advice in its guide on preparing children for health visits, which also fits here: tell a little at a time, and make it clear that what is going to happen has an end.
Let the child be the hero and include a small challenge. For example, let the child be a little uncertain during recess, take a small step, and find someone to play with. If everything goes perfectly, the child won't believe the story.
Talk about the day afterwards. Don't just ask if your child had a good day, but also if the others in the class did. Børns Vilkår suggests this as a way to strengthen the sense of community.

What you should avoid

Don't just say that it will be fine. Børns Vilkår writes that it is tempting to reassure the child, but the most important thing is to be curious and give space to what the child is actually feeling.
Don't share your own bad school memories as the absolute truth. Children get their ideas about school from siblings, friends, and the adults around them, and the Children's Council encourages adults to think about the image they are passing on.
Don't speed up the pace during the first few days. The first days of school are demanding, and children may need peace, breaks, and fewer appointments, writes Børns Vilkår.

If your child is particularly anxious, contact teachers or educators early. An early dialogue can help the school meet the child in a way that creates calm. A story is a help in everyday life, not a solution to everything.

How to do it in Flipr

You don't have to come up with anything while you pack the bag. It takes a few minutes:

Create your child's hero. Take a selfie or build the character from scratch. Add siblings, parents, and pets so they are included in all your stories.
Write what the story should be about. For example: "Sofie starts kindergarten on Monday. She is a little nervous about recess and finding the bathroom. Her teddy bear Baloo is in her bag." You just write what your child needs. Flipr does the rest.
Read or listen together. The story is ready in under 2 minutes, with pictures created for exactly your adventure. You can read it yourself or let Flipr read it aloud.

Monday morning, your child stands at the school gate, looks over at the playground, and says: "I know where the bathroom is, just like in the story." You wave. It was you who gave the child that.

Want to see it first? See examples of stories

How do I prepare my child for the first day of school?

Start by listening to what the child is uncertain about, visit the school if possible, and narrate the day in order. Create a short story where the child themselves handles difficult moments, like recess.

What if my child is nervous about making friends?

Listen and ask about what the child is thinking. Let the story show a simple way to start, e.g., asking what the other person's name is and if they want to play. This is a strategy children themselves mentioned in the Children's Council's interviews.

When should I start preparing the child?

Begin with conversations and a visit to the school in the weeks before, and read the story during the final days before school starts. Feel free to repeat it the night before the first day.

What do I do if my child doesn't want to go to school?

Listen first and ask about specifics. Contact the child's teacher or educator early if the child is particularly anxious.

When do children start school in Denmark?

Most children start in Grade 0 (børnehaveklasse) in the calendar year they turn six. Check your municipality's rules for enrollment.

Try Flipr for free

Sources

Skolen set fra børnehaven: Børns forventninger til og forestillinger om skolen — Børnerådets Minibørnepanel (2013)
Gode råd til forældre: Hjælp dit barn trygt tilbage til skolens krav og fællesskaber — Børns Vilkår (2026)
Förbereda barn för besök i vården — 1177 (2024)