Going back to school can be both an exciting and nerve-racking time for children. The length of time away from the classroom and lack of routine can often create strong emotions when it becomes time to return to the classroom.
Every new year at our independent school in Devon brings changes for pupils, whether it’s classes, teachers, subjects or new activities. To best prepare your child and get them thinking about the school term ahead, we’ve got some tips which will encourage them to put the right foot forward and embrace their return to school.
1. Check for School Essentials
You don’t want to add to the stress of a new school year by realising they don’t have something on the first day!
Together with your child, check all their school equipment and give yourselves time ahead of the start of the term to get anything that they need. Ensure their pencil cases have everything they may require, that their backpack is still in good condition, you know where their lunch box is and that their school uniform still fits.
2. Reestablish Sleep Patterns
For many of us, the early mornings of the school run after weeks of lie-ins and relaxed mornings can be a shock to the system. To make this transition a little easier and to ensure they’re bright and ready to learn when lessons start, we would advise adjusting their sleeping pattern at least two weeks before the first day of school.
This additional time allows children to adjust to waking up and going to bed earlier than they may have become used to, so they feel more refreshed and calm on the first day.
3. Prepare Your Morning Routine
You know how the school run goes; from getting up late to missing clothes and books, there’s always new pitfalls to discover. Save yourself some of that early morning stress by preparing your morning routine the night before.
No first day back is going to be perfect, but if their clothes are laid out, their bag is packed, and breakfast is already planned, things might move a little more smoothly for everyone.
4. Talk About Those Back-to-school Feelings
For some children, the summer holidays can feel like they last an eternity, which can make the return to school create feelings of uncertainty. That emotion is amplified if your child is attending a new school.
We all know that talking through our thoughts and feelings can be incredibly helpful in reducing their impact on us individually, and the same goes for children. Get into a habit of regularly talking to them about school, and make sure you sit down to discuss how they feel about going back. Even if you don’t have all the solutions to their concerns, simply discussing them can reduce the pressure.
Also, talking about the return to school is a great time to highlight the positive aspects. Playing games, seeing their favourite teachers, catching up with friends, and generally enjoying themselves should all be areas that you can discuss together to help them look forward to the return.
5. Refresh Their Knowledge
The school holidays are filled with fun-filled activities, family holidays, trips to museums, swimming pools and adventure parks. All of this action, although highly beneficial for your child’s development, doesn’t always have an academic focus.
To switch their thinking back into school-mode, refresh their memories by reviewing work from the previous term, reading, and possibly setting them fun tasks which will slowly get their brains back into gear.
6. Tidy the Homework Space
The start of school also marks the return of homework! Whether your child loves it or not, it can help them begin on the right foot by ensuring they have a nice and clean space ready for whatever comes their way.
Dedicating a homework area within your home and either revamping or tidying this workspace together can be a fantastic way to make the prospect of homework feel more manageable.
7. Plan the First Day
Visualisation is a very useful way for everyone to reduce their stress levels when facing scary situations. If your child is nervous about returning to school, it can be helpful to plan the day out as much as possible.
Discuss how they’re going to get to school and what they might get up to while they’re there, including meeting friends, playing games, and what they’ll have for lunch. You can also discuss how they will get home and what they can enjoy in the evening when the school day is over.
8. Reconnect With Other Families
Remember, you’re not the only one who will be worrying about the first day of school.
If you’ve been away over the summer and not seen as much of the other parents, this is a great time to reconnect. You can discuss preparation ideas with other parents, and your child gets an opportunity to hang out with other pupils before that first day, which can give them some confidence, too.
9. Set an Example to Your Child
Young children take a lot of cues from their parents and guardians, so if you look worried about the first day of school, they will feel it too.
No matter how you feel, try to remain calm and optimistic when discussing school with your child. Keep a relaxed and confident demeanour on that first morning, and you’ll help your child develop that sense of calm and confidence within themselves.
10. Organise a Healthy Lunch or Snack
The first day back at school can be long and draining, with lots of emotions flying around. Therefore, having a good snack and lunch prepared (if your child won’t be having a school dinner) is crucial.
Giving your child tasty, healthy foods, including a good balance of fruits and veggies, will help ensure their energy levels remain high throughout the day and don’t end up crashing, so consider what healthy foods and snacks you can pack for their big first day.
St Peter’s Preparatory School is nut and sesame-free, so be sure to check that any snacks you send to school comply with allergen requirements.
11. Discuss Any Concerns With a Teacher Before the First Day
There may be some circumstances that make you feel especially worried about sending your child back to school. In these cases, it’s always a good idea to try to speak to a teacher about your concerns; they may be able to help put a plan in place or a system to give your child additional support.
Many parents will have similar concerns to speak to teachers about on the first day, so if there’s something on your mind, try to reach out before that morning. Doing so not only gives teachers the best opportunity to offer you support, but it will also help take the stress off the rest of your back-to-school prep.
We hope that everyone is having a fantastic summer holiday and is enjoying the extra time as a family! We’re looking forward to welcoming all of our new and existing pupils back for the new year soon.
