What's Needed for First Grade?

[Xochiquetzal]

My 7 year old is getting ready for first grade. What will she need - any special shoes or clothing I should make sure to get?

I was woefully ill prepared for Eskari and want to get a jump on first grade Thanks!

[Rosamunda]

1) Mobile phone
2) Bus pass
3) Front door key



and maybe indoor shoes (eg Crocs). Can't think of anything else.

[EP]

And that ever so important school bag and that thing where she can keep her pencil and eraser, whatever it is called in English.

[itsme]

And that ever so important school bag and that thing where she can keep her pencil and eraser, whatever it is called in English.

Pencil case, I presume?

[Xochiquetzal]

Thanks guys!

[Bella]

And very good shoes, pants and jacket for raining days. Try to not buy an expensive mobile phone because it's easy for 7 years old to loose it. If you have an old one and it's stil working that's even better for the first year.

[Rosamunda]

... the mobile phone was a joke. First graders don't (shouldn't) need mobile phones. And they shouldn't really need a bus pass for that matter. Most primary school kids down here in the capital region are lucky enough to live within walking distance of the nearest school. As for door keys... many of them do go home to an empty house after school or after clubs. It's odd that this seems to be an accepted state of affairs up here and was a shock to me when I first arrived. My youngest was one of only two kids in his second grade class not to have a mobile phone.

[karen]

She'll need a backpack. Not the small cute ones, but a full-size heavy duty one. I think the school provided pencils and an eraser as well as a ruler when it was needed.

[Tiwaz]

She'll need a backpack. Not the small cute ones, but a full-size heavy duty one. I think the school provided pencils and an eraser as well as a ruler when it was needed.

If it is anything like my first grade, and granted this was quite a while ago, you can opt for small backpack with picture of preferred animation character.

They (at least in year miekka ja kirves) unload the first grader with huge load of stuff, and by laws of fashion (and damage) you have to buy new backpack for next year anyway.

[karen]

YMMV, but my kid started First Grade with a cool Spiderman backpack and we were asked immediately to get him a larger, more practical backpack.

[Tiwaz]

If that is true, woe upon tiny ones...

Though to think of it. I may have seen walking backpacks in last years. Could have been first grader somewhere beneath it.

Or maybe our concept of small backpack just is wee bit different.

[irnbru]

As for door keys... many of them do go home to an empty house after school or after clubs. It's odd that this seems to be an accepted state of affairs up here and was a shock to me when I first arrived.

What choice do people have though? The schoolday seems to end insanely early here and most parents can't afford to have one of them staying at home when the kids 7.

[Rosamunda]

No choice, except paying for after-school clubs (the municipalities don't seem to fund them any longer), babysitters, or getting the grandparents involved.

Weird system. IMO.

[Xochiquetzal]

Thanks! We bought a large backpack.

What is the practicality for school clothes? For Esikoulu, it seemed to be soft pants and a warm shirt. I'm thinking jeans all day and decent shirt now that she'll be walking home farther?

Does she keep her rain gear at the school when not in use? What should ideally be in her locker area?

Does she have to take off her regular shoes and put on indoor shoes? Like crocs?

I was really unprepared for all the stuff at the day care and I'd really like to make sure I don't get yelled at by the staff this time. You'd think having a Finnish husband, he'd know this stuff *sigh*\

Thanks everyone!

[irnbru]

Weird system. IMO.

Agreed.