We don’t need to tell you that the first week back to school after the long summer holidays is a big deal for children of all ages. From shiny shoes, new coats and rucksacks to the sharpened pencils in their pencil cases, the new school year is a brand new start for parents and children alike.
If you’re looking to get ahead this year and take away that ‘back-to-school’ dread that many of us feel, we’ve got some top tips for parents and guardians to start the new school year off well.
Get some sleep in
The week before the school term starts can always feel unsettling for both children and parents so getting enough sleep in is important. The summer holidays usually mean longer days spent enjoying time with family and friends so when school starts to loom, getting some rest will help settle nerves.
It may not be ‘fun’ to start your school routine when the holidays are still in full swing, but starting a good bedtime routine the week before will help the children in your life adjust to earlier nights once school starts. Perfecting the shift back to school a little earlier will reduce pressure on everyone and help introduce a little routine before the new year starts.
Try winding down 30 minutes earlier a week or two before school and if they haven’t learned time yet, show them what their new bedtime looks like so they feel involved. Encourage them to read before bed too, if they don’t already, so when they start to get books for homework, it won’t feel like work at all.
Of course, the same goes for parents- getting an earlier night might be just what you need to help adjust to the new school term too!
Back-to-school uniforms
After getting enough rest before term starts, the second most important part of the new school year is the back-to-school outfits.
If your child is new to the school, make sure you have everything ordered (and in the right sizes) long before the school bell rings. If your child is going back to the same school, checking that their uniform fits them and they’re comfortable is equally important.
If you’re looking to be a bit more sustainable, why not check local school groups for any secondhand uniform sales. If you’re friendly with the other parents, why not ask them if they have any spare that might suit your child as it saves wasting perfectly good uniform.
Embrace the back-to-school essentials
A new school year brings the need for some back-to-school essentials like new backpacks and of course, a new pair of shoes. For many parents, the idea of shopping for back-to-school stationery sets fills them with dread, so why not get ahead of the crowds and shop online for the smaller bits.
Ask your child to choose their stationery, new lunch boxes and other bits like backpacks online with you. This saves you time spent in queues and means you can order them over the summer instead of leaving it to the last minute.
By asking them to help, you’re still involving them in the decision-making process and you might even find some great summer sales online.
Write a list with them
For some people, lists are a real help for staying on track and visualising all the things that need doing or remembering to do. Whether your child is 4 or 14, everyone loves that feeling when you can tick off tasks on a to-do list and starting a new school year is the perfect time for a back-to-school checklist.
Start with the obvious things to make sure they have packed in their bags like pencil cases, new pads, water bottles etc. If they’re starting a new school or catching the bus for the first time, write down the times and places they’ll need to be so they won’t forget.
If they’re taking in money for the first time, why not write a list and include their budgets for lunch and bus money too. This helps introduce tips for budgeting early and helps them remember how much they have to spend when they start school.
Pre-pack the night before
Another great tip for keeping your cool before school is to make sure to pack the night before so nothing gets left behind or lost under the sofa before the big day. Again, make this a joint effort between you and your child so they feel involved and recognise it’s an important part of their new school year- being organised.
Why not use a handy list to write all the things they’ll need, use their timetable to make sure you don’t overpack and leave plenty of time for washing uniforms so you’re not rushing. Pre-packing their bag the night before a new school year helps build it into their routine for the rest of the year and helps relieve the worries of ‘have I forgotten anything’ that you may both be feeling.
Don’t forget to have fun!
And last but not least, don’t forget to have fun! The new school year can also bring new worries for older children who are starting somewhere new or are starting an important year in their education, so try to have fun too.
Why not book their favourite activity after their first week back to give them something else to focus on other than school. A sleepover with their friends, a trip to the cinema or a picnic in their favourite park are all great ways to make sure they have something fun to do after the first week back.
Planning their favourite meals to enjoy after school for the first week is another good way to ensure they enjoy their first week too, even if they don’t want to tell you how their day was!
If you’ve got a few more weeks of the summer holiday left, make sure the school chat is diluted with things they find interesting too so they don’t feel too much pressure around getting back to school.