Back to School 2

back to school

As always, Christmas has come and gone in a blur and the summer holidays have whizzed by – before we know it, the kids are back at school. What can you do to help make it easier for everyone?

is your child not excited about starting back at school?

  • Ease kids in. It’s not necessarily the best idea to start off with too much of a bang and expect them to come home and do homework and tuition in the first week.
  • They might have ‘new teacher blues’. In this case, listen to your child and reassure them that they will get used to their new teacher and the new ways of doing things in the classroom. Remind them that everyone else is in the same position as them.
  • If they have been separated from their friends, make an effort to invite those kids over for an after-school play date, or encourage your child to play with his old friends at lunchtime. Remind your child also that this year will be a good opportunity to make new friends – you can never have too many.
  • Role-model a positive attitude about school and schoolwork. Show them that school is an inevitable but exciting part of growing up and that learning is fun. If you have an issue with their teacher, don’t let your child know about it until you’ve had a chance to discuss it with the teacher. If you seem happy with their teacher, they are more likely to feel better about them too.

hydration

Without adequate hydration at school, a child is at risk of getting headaches, loss of concentration and digestive problems. Dehydration has also been proven to reduce concentration and mental performance, as well as affecting behaviour. Therefore, it’s essential, particularly in these summer months, to get your child into some good water drinking habits. Make sure they have a big drink of water before they leave home for the day, as well as first thing once they are home. They should be having between 6-10 cups per day (depending on body weight). Remember that by the time they actually feel thirsty, their body is already partially dehydrated.

Send them off to school with a drink bottle and ask their teacher if they would consider allowing a ‘drink bottle’ policy in the classroom. This is where drink bottles are kept in the classroom (often at the back of the room) and children are allowed (and reminded) to drink regularly from them throughout the school day.

ways to minimise the morning chaos:

  • lists of things-to-do for the kids
  • breakfast and lunch options decided in advance
  • showers/baths the night before
  • uniforms on the end of the bed
  • school bags packed
  • after-school gear sorted
  • have a no-shouting policy!

don’t let them get overtired

Some kids can’t wait for school to begin again, others are less enthusiastic. However don’t forget to start the year off well by ensuring that your children don’t get over-tired in those first few weeks back.

organise gear for after-school activities

If your children have after-school activities, it’s very handy to have a selection of bags with the appropriate gear in them so your child can just grab the bag and go. Or, you could get a big box for the garage into which all their gear is put and your children can select from it what they need for their after-school activity that day. This works well for togs and towels, sports shoes and uniforms, as well as sports equipment.

Scroll to Top