His new uniform has been hanging in the wardrobe for weeks and the Robot Wars pencil case is ready for action. This morning, Conor Darroch (4) will join thousands of other youngsters around the country when he sets off for his first day at school.
"I think he is looking forward to it," said Conor's mother, Susan Compelli, at the family's home in Donabate, Co Dublin. "Although he has complained that the school jumper is scratchy."
While Conor is a little shy, his mother said she thought it unlikely that there would be any tantrums or tears as she leads him to the classroom at St Patrick's National School in Donabate at 10 a.m. today.
"He has met the teacher already and some of his friends from Montessori will be there," she said.
"I remember when I had my first day at school the class was full of crying children. But they seem to ease them into it more gently these days."
Like other parents, Ms Compelli said she had found that the cost of uniforms, books and other school-related expenses was slightly higher than she expected.
A National Parents' Council - Primary survey of parents around the country found that the cost of sending a child to primary school can run as high as €450 when items such as shoes, schoolbags, runners and tracksuits are taken into account.
According to parenting expert and father of three, Michael Grose, the "morning mania" about to unfold in homes across the country can be avoided if certain steps are followed.
In his book One Step Ahead - Parenting 3/12-year-olds he says it is important to establish a clear routine, not interfere in the children's tasks, remove or ignore distracting influences such as TV and ensure that children understand the consequences of being late.
"It is useless expecting children to be organised in the morning if you are in a muddle yourself," he writes.
"Set a good example by being as methodical as possible and don't sleep in yourself unless your children are so well organised that they get you breakfast in bed. And pigs might fly!"