Tips to help you get back to school

JOBURG – Getting ‘back to school’ at the beginning of the year can feel like an endeavour for parents and children alike.

Both private and public schools in Gauteng open on 14 January, and getting back into the routine of daily life after a holiday can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. With some helpful tips, you can ease the transition from holiday to school goer.

For school lunches on hot days, freeze a wet sponge in a zip lock bag for a spill proof and drip-free ice pack in their lunch box. It helps keep the food from spoiling. When packing prepped fruit, apples can be cut into wedges and held together by an elastic band to keep the wedges from browning.

When it comes to routine, adjusting sleeping times a few days before the first day of school, and getting back in the rhythm of sleeping and waking up early, will make the first week a lot easier to manage. For children who have a tendency to mess on their uniforms at breakfast, dress them in their school uniform last so they can arrive in the morning looking pristine. Have book bags packed and placed near the door the night before so there is no added stress in the morning. Adjust the clocks in the car and the house five minutes ahead to help you stay punctual.