Preparing Kids for Back To School
Before we know it, the summer break will be over and lazy mornings will be replaced with alarm clocks, book bags and school runs.
For those with kids heading back to school, or starting for the first time, new apprehensions might be circling: Will I make friends? Will I keep up? Where are the toilets?!
Yet for many parents, the back to school season can prove even more demanding and hectic. According to a survey of 1000 parents, eight in ten admitted to experiencing back-to-school stress, with nearly half (47%) confessing that it’s even more stressful than the school holidays.
The contrast in routine and general pace of life can be stark, but with a little forward planning, the return to a school and work routine can be something to be eased into feeling calm, relaxed and renewed.
If you have a child starting school for the first time, all the advice points towards support and reassurance. Gentle introductions into school life – take them shopping to buy their new uniform, talk about when you were at school, and invest in a few tools to get them up to speed so the demands of the classroom aren’t too overwhelming.
Make sure they can dress themselves to a reasonable level, and discuss how the first few weeks might pan out.
Another great tool is a new app called Poio – a phonics teacher disguised as a cute little game in which ‘Readlings’ munch away at letters, gobbling up enough words to create a story bit by bit.
Belle tested out the app – which costs just £18 for unlimited use – for two months, and we were impressed with the levels of development shown by our tiny testers. By learning through play, and repetition of sounds, we noticed a genuine climb in reading ability. The app is fun, and it draws kids in as they complete challenge after challenge to complete a story, but it’s clearly been designed by experts to educate and train.
We’ve also consulted Neil Shah, founder of The Stress Management Society, who has teamed up with RESCUE® to give us some top tips for a smooth return and staying on top of those busy school days.
The Final Countdown to School Start
The final weeks are a good time to gradually reintroduce routines like going to bed and getting up a little earlier. Getting everyone used to the change will make those early starts and structured days less of a reality shock after a long summer break.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is essential for the body to function properly and children need more sleep than most people realise. The National Sleep Foundation recommends school aged children get an average of 9-11 hours a night . You can support your children with their sleep by starting to wind things down in your home 30 minutes before bedtime. This way you will help your children get enough sleep and arrive at school refreshed and ready to learn.
Plan Ahead For the Week
The key to decreasing fraught situations lies in careful planning. Managing children, drop offs, school bags, packed lunches, pick ups, after school activities and meal preparation is a carefully planned routine. The key therefore is to make sure you are organized at the beginning of the week. Create a visual schedule and keep it on a white board so the whole family is informed about the plans for the week.
Establish a routine
Set a breakfast and morning routine that works for everyone. It may mean setting out plates and planning breakfast the night before or it may mean getting up a few minutes earlier to help ease morning stress. Try to make mornings calm and be enthusiastic about what’s planned for the day. Your children will need lots of energy for the school day so make sure you all have time to enjoy a nutritious breakfast together.
Book in unscheduled time
Be careful not to fall into the trap of over-scheduling. Children’s schedules can be really busy with extra-curricular activities like swimming, dancing classes and music lessons (as well as homework!), but it is important to also ensure that children have some downtime, playtime and family time.
