IT is that time of the year again…back to school. While it can be the most dreaded time of the year for some, it can also be exciting for those looking forward to a new school year.

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Hopefully by now you have all your supplies, but here’s a list of things you can do as a parent or a learner to make the transition phase easier.

1. Have your children pack their school bags before they go to sleep the night before school

Encourage your children to lay out their school clothes the night before. Using a checklist to establish a regular morning routine is the best way to tackle the problem.

2. Create a family calendar that tracks everyone’s activities and commitments

This will help you easily keep track of your family’s busy life, including your child’s extracurricular classes. Best of all, it’s a way to know where everyone is supposed to be.

3. Visit museums to get them into scholarly mode

Durban is blessed with an abundance of natural history. One of the best is the Durban Natural Science Museum, which has dynamic and innovative research and education programmes with a particular emphasis on biodiversity conservation and ecology.

4. Do not procrastinate 

This may seem like an obvious choice, but so many of us have been guilty of this in the past and have learned the stressful repercussions. According to research, habit is created in three weeks, so if you study on a regular basis within a 21-day-cycle, it will positively impact your grades and hopefully make you a better student.

5. Visit the school with your kids so they can get familiar with their new environments

A new school can make any child anxious; it’s all about adjustment. The best thing to do is to take your child to the school before the term starts, so they get used to the environment. Some suggest trying to organise play dates with other kids who go to that school, so when your child starts they already have friends there.

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