8 Tips for Getting Back to School this year

A fear of change and the ‘unknown’ prompted my daughter to request a few days ahead of returning to school that she be home schooled from now on. This is despite her love of learning and all things school. Her reaction is not uncommon as we all struggle with changes and often look to avoid them. Heading back to school after a long and relaxed summer holidays can certainly be difficult. These tips might help to ease the stress.

Ease into a routine and don’t start it on the first day back at school.

Creating a bedtime routine a morning routine a few days ahead of school returning can really help when the big day comes.

Be prepared.

A lot of anxiety can be avoided by making sure that everything including school books, stationary and uniforms are organised in advance.

Be positive (but not too positive).

Rather than focus on the negatives of going back to school see if you child can identify at least 3 positives of returning to school. It might be getting to see friends they haven’t seen in a while, having a lunch order from the canteen or getting to do a favourite subject like art or music. If they can’t think of 3 things see if you can prompt a few ideas.

Check in about any fears and help your child address them (but not necessarily solve them!)

It is helpful to get children to voice their fears about returning to school. But when they do, try not to immediately solve the problem or tell them that their fears are silly. A little validation to can go a long way to solving the problem. There may be some practical things you can do to alleviate some fears but others you will need to work with your child to be brave and approach them as they come.

Be Available.

It can help to be a bit more available around this time of year. Try and make sure you don’t need to rush on the first day by perhaps starting work a little later. If you have more than one child it can be great if both parents can be on hand to ease the burden on the first day of finding classrooms, unloading supplies and meeting new teachers.

Help them reintegrate into school.

Take them up and help them introduce themselves to the teacher. Identify friends and help re-establish these bonds if the children have not seen each other in a while.

Provide a little bit of extra love.

Children have often had extra time with parents over the school holidays and have grown accustomed to having parents around that little bit more. The change of returning to school can disrupt this and you may find that young children in particular can become a little more clingy or a bit more irritable than usual. They will benefit from you be aware of this and giving them a little bit of extra attention while they adapt to their new classroom and readjust to less time with you. A note in their lunch box, an extra hug or maybe even an item of yours to take care of during the day might be needed.

Celebrate the day.

A ritual in our home is to always got out for dinner on the first night back at school for the year. This is a way of celebrating everything that is to come for the year and take the time to hear the news of the day.

With these tips in hand the school year will hopefully be off to a flying start. Here’s to a good year.

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