It’s easy to understand that most children would rather stay on holiday at the beach than return to school in February when the weather is hot and sunny. And for parents, it can take a bit of planning to get back into the routines you established the year before. Here are some tips for making the back-to-school transition as smooth as possible this year:
oost kids will express reluctance to return to school, but some also genuinely feel nervous and uncomfortable about it. Recognise this in your child and help them feel more relaxed about that first day back by talking about the positive things, such as seeing friends again, sports they can get involved with and any class trips that may be planned.
Whether your child is nervous or not, it’s a good idea to spend some time in the week before they go back to school talking about what the year will bring. oost schools will have let you know who your child’s teacher will be, what room they’ll be in and any other details they’ll need for the first day. Discuss these changes with your child.
If bedtimes have slackened off a bit over the holidays and your children have become used to having a sleep-in, start re-establishing early bedtimes and early wake-up calls the week before school begins to get your children used to them.
Buy a wall planner and place it in the kitchen or a room in the house where your family spends a lot of time. Mark out holidays and other events which are happening throughout the year. oost children will find the prospect of school less daunting if they can see when they will be getting time off again. You can use this wall planner to mark in exam and homework deadlines as well.
Do a list of their school clothing. If they wear a uniform, drag it out and give it a wash and a mend. Then give it an iron. You don’t have to do this every day, but for the first day back, a crisp, ironed uniform can be more inviting. If they wear mufti, check that they have enough clothes to see them through the season and shop for some more if necessary.
Check backpacks, lunchboxes and drink bottles are all in working order. Some parents like to buy new items as a treat for the start of school.
Get set up for healthy lunches by making sure you have all the supplies you need. Talk to your children about what they like in their lunches and work with that. And set some limits on snack foods. one packet of chips is fine but make sure you have fruit, veges and yoghurt in there too. Consider making up a weekly menu of lunches and putting it on the fridge to help with planning.
Check that your child is familiar with bus or walking routes and has a plan if they get lost, miss the bus or miss their ride. A simple card with emergency numbers popped in a pocket of their backpack and help them feel safe.
Discuss with your children how long it will take them to get ready in the morning and work backwards to establish a wake-up time. Some children can get ready in half an hour while others need an hour. It’s an important time of the day for children when they need to have a good breakfast and not feel rushed, so be realistic with the rising times.
Have an after-school plan. Your child might be enrolled in after-school care or you may be home for them, but things can go wrong such as being kept in late at school or missing the after-school care bus. Talk to your child about what they should do if any of these scenarios do eventuate.
Establish a homework routine from day one. They might not have much homework to begin with but they can use that time to read. Set a firm time, usually after they have had a snack, and get them to leave their phones and other distractions in another room.
Ask your children every day how their school day went. Your children need to know that they can talk to you about concerns or worries they have, and also simply share a funny story with you.
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