Some children cannot wait to get back to school after a long holiday but others may struggle and be a bit sluggish in adapting to the routine again. It can be stressful for parents too, so here are some handy hints to get the whole family settled into routines again.
Mark it down
As with a Christmas advent calendar, why not make a back-to-school advent calendar you child can excitedly follow? You can also put a treat behind each date window. This way, they’ll know how many sleeps it is to the start of the new school year again.
Also read: Goodness to go: Back to school lunchbox inspiration
Bedtime
At least a week before school starts, gradually introduce an earlier bedtime routine. During the holiday this would have been quite flexible and things like brushing teeth and no limit on screen time may have gone a little out the window. Get children used to the idea of their usual school routine again by reiterating school-night rules. This should include cutting back on sugary treats and TV or other activities before bed, so that they can start to wind down. There could be some resistance since children will be used to spending time with the family well past their bedtime and having the freedom of the fridge whenever they feel peckish. However, when the day comes for those early morning starts again, it will all be worth it.
Have a chat
Ask your children what they’ve missed about school in the holidays and what they look forward to. Each child is starting a new school year, and this is a big deal and will come with some anxiety. Remind them of daily routines, such as school drop-off and pick up, extra murals, homework and bedtimes. To make returning to the classroom a positive experience, encourage them to write a little story or draw pictures for their teacher about what they did in the holiday. Let them know too that it is OK to feel a bit nervous and that you can also be apprehensive about returning to reality after a wonderful break with the family.
Storytime
Create some time before bed to put their minds at ease with a story related to going back to school, or something else that is relevant. You could even make up a story in which your child is the main character and their actual school and bus route, etc. is mentioned.
Something to look forward to
Holidays are for making memories, but there are also wonderful memories to be made in the school environment. Help your child embrace the possibilities by getting them excited about extra mural activities the school offers, educational trips they may go on or the possibility of being elected a class captain or leader. Remind them too that there is plenty of family fun ahead on weekends, and maybe diarise a few outings to give them something to look forward to.
Get organised
At least two weeks before school starts, ask your children to go through their stationery and school clothes and see what needs to be replaced. Stationery shopping can be a rewarding and satisfying experience if done early, as when the children get home with all their new goodies, they are bound to be proud of this and want to get organised for school. Leaving stationery and uniform shopping to the last minute is more than likely going to be a stressful, negative experience.
Comfort item
Smaller children, especially toddlers starting pre-school, can take a comfort object with them. This is also known as a “transitional object” and it provides psychological comfort to children who are struggling with the concept of going back to school. The object could be a blanket or one of their favourite toys. What about putting a little “good luck charm” into the lunchbox? Be sure to tell their teacher about the comfort object.
On the day
Make an effort to mobilise the family earlier than usual and keep routines running a little earlier in all aspects, so that you leave the house earlier and get them to school in more than enough time. This will take the stress off everyone and ease the path for a good week ahead. It is important that parents, even if they are feeling stressed, remain composed and self-confident as the child will then also feel that everything is under control and running the way it should be.
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