According to APS School Projects, helping your children prepare for a new school term can be stressful as a parent. Sometimes it can feel like there’s so much to do: preparing a new calendar, getting the kids back into a routine and ensuring any outstanding projects have been completed.

But showing up as a supportive parent and helping them transition back into school and study mode is something your kids will always remember.

Here’s how you can prepare your children for a smooth return to an academic routine for the new term.

Adjust your children’s routine gradually to return to school

Longer school holidays, like the December break, could mean kids need about a week to get back into a routine.

While you can play this by ear, as you know your kids best, many research studies have shown that consistent routines and structure in kids’ daily lives have a positive impact on their overall well-being and academic success.

Having a good routine at home provides children with a sense of security and predictability, which in turn helps to reduce stress and anxiety.

Start by having a conversation with your children and explain that the entire family is preparing for the school term that lies ahead. Then set up a schedule together.

For younger kids, you could use visual cues like pictures of activities aligned with times of the day to help them understand the value of a daily routine.

For teenagers, allow them to create their own schedule (with your help) to give them a sense of control and responsibility. Include adjustments to bedtime and wake-up times to align with school schedules.

Open up communication channels

Our kids sometimes don’t yet have the language to tell us exactly how they feel. They might feel excited, anxious, scared, or a combination of different emotions — all completely normal. Knowing how your children feel will deeply impact your approach to handling the conversations you’ll have with them about returning to school.

Set up regular one-on-one time with each child to discuss their feelings and concerns about returning to school throughout the holiday period. This could be in the form of going on walks together, cooking, or playing a game.

Teach kids how to practise coping strategies

Coping mechanisms or coping strategies are techniques used to regulate thoughts and emotions in order to manage stressful situations.

Preparing kids for a new term has its own challenges. There might be new extracurricular activities to balance, new subject material, tests and exams to prepare for, and even social situations kids need to navigate.

For most of our children’s school experience, we as parents are simply onlookers. The best tools we can give our kids are techniques for how to cope when we’re not there with them.

These coping techniques for dealing with stress at school are crucial for kids’ overall well-being and academic performance.

Strategy 1: Deep breathing

When your children feel stressed or nervous, the first thing they can do to regulate their emotions is practise deep breathing. Deep breathing can help calm the body’s stress response and refocus the mind.

Teach them to take slow, deep breaths in through their nose, hold for a few seconds, and then exhale slowly through their mouth.

Strategy 2: Positive self-talk

Teach your child to replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations when they are preparing for a challenge or facing a difficult situation.

Encourage them to challenge negative self-talk by reminding themselves of their strengths, abilities and past successes. Positive self-talk can help shift their mindset and reduce feelings of stress and self-doubt.

Strategy 3: Problem-solving skills

Help your child develop problem-solving skills to tackle challenges they encounter at school. Teach them to break problems down into smaller steps, brainstorm possible solutions and evaluate the pros and cons of each option.

Strategy 4: Time management

Teach your child effective time-management skills to reduce feelings of overwhelm and stress. Help them create a daily or weekly schedule to organise tasks and prioritise responsibilities.

Encourage them to break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks and to allocate time for breaks and relaxation.

Strategy 5: Physical activity

Physical activity is incredibly important for helping kids manage stress. Not only is it a great outlet for releasing pent-up energy, but it also helps release endorphins — the feel-good hormones.

Physical activity can take many forms, such as playing sports, going for a walk, or practising yoga or gymnastics. Make sure it’s an activity your kids enjoy, with bonus points if you can do it with them.

Strategy 6: Seeking support

Teach your child the importance of seeking support from trusted adults, such as parents, guardians or teachers, when they are feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Encourage open communication and reassure them that it’s okay to ask for help when needed.

Tips to help parents prepare themselves for the new school term

Preparing for a new school term can also be challenging for parents, especially when trying to balance various responsibilities. Many parents face challenges such as working full time (sometimes even working a second job), managing a household, planning and preparing healthy meals, fitting in exercise and, if there’s time, planning a social life. So, how can a parent prepare for their children’s new school term?

Create a family calendar

It’s hard keeping track of everything — extracurricular activities, test days, projects, weekend sports games and social events. A family calendar with everyone’s important dates is a game-changer for busy parents. This can be a physical calendar on the fridge or a digital one on your devices, as long as everyone has access.

You can also colour-code the calendar by category or by each child’s name to help everyone stay organised and plan ahead. Involving the entire family helps keep everyone accountable for schedule changes.

Establish routines

Establish daily routines for yourself and your family to help streamline tasks and manage time more efficiently. This could include consistent wake-up and bedtime routines, designated times for meals and homework, and weekly planning sessions to coordinate schedules.

Delegate responsibilities

Delegate tasks among family members to lighten the load and promote teamwork. Encourage children to take on age-appropriate chores, such as packing their own lunch, sorting or folding laundry, or helping with household tasks.

Younger children can assist with simpler chores, such as making their beds, while teenagers can take on more advanced responsibilities like caring for pets or preparing one meal a week.

Set realistic expectations for yourself

Be realistic about what you can accomplish and don’t be afraid to say no to additional commitments that may overwhelm you.

Prioritise tasks based on importance and urgency, and focus on what truly matters for your family’s well-being.

Practise self-care

Make self-care a priority by scheduling regular time for activities that recharge and rejuvenate you. Parents can sometimes become so busy taking care of everyone else that they forget to recharge themselves.

Whether it’s exercise, meditation, hobbies or spending time with loved ones, carving out time for self-care helps maintain balance and manage stress.

Seek support

Don’t hesitate to reach out for support from friends, family members or other parents facing similar challenges.

Joining parent support groups or online communities can also provide valuable resources, advice and encouragement.

Stay flexible

Understand that plans may need to change and unexpected challenges may arise, so it’s important to stay flexible and adapt as needed. Practise patience and resilience, and don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t always go as planned.

Communicate with your child’s school

Establish open lines of communication with your children’s schools and teachers to stay informed about important updates, events and academic progress. Attend parent-teacher conferences and stay involved in your child’s education to ensure they have the support they need to succeed.

By implementing these strategies, parents can better prepare themselves and their children for the new school term and navigate the challenges of balancing various responsibilities effectively.