Top Tips for Back to School
Dr Nicole White
OK parents and carers – time to strap in and join in the throes of “Back to School” preparation. The Summer school holidays have been long and hopefully have provided an opportunity for rest, rejuvenation and connection with family and friends. Unfortunately we can’t put it off any longer, and the return to drop-offs, pick-ups, homework and the worst of all for me – lunch boxes - is upon us.
There are many scenarios that parents may be facing at this point. Perhaps you have a child starting school for the first time, or starting at a new school. Maybe they are transitioning into high school or you are preparing for a student in grade 12. It may be that you are returning to the same grind that you have had for several years. Whatever your situation, there are some steps you can take to help ease everybody back into the new school year.
Here are my top 5 tips:
1. Preparation and Organisation.
Being prepared ahead of time will help to ease the stress of the return to school on day one.
Ensure that your child has the necessary uniforms and remember that shoes may need to be replaced or polished.
Ensure that stationery and books are labelled and packed in the school bag ready for the first day.
Getting younger children to help in this process can help to build a sense of excitement about returning to school.
Ensuring that your older children organise themselves is important, to help them grow independence and accountability.
2. Routines are everything.
Children thrive on routines, as do teenagers (although they may certainly be more resistant to these!). It can take some time to build a routine, and I would recommend starting this in the week before school goes back. Re-establish wake up times, getting out of PJ’s in the mornings, making beds and eating breakfast in time to get out the door to school.
Now might also be the time to re-establish some screen time limitations for those with devices.
For younger children, involve them in creating a morning routine and perhaps create a visual schedule that your child can refer to on school days. Keep this simple and realistic.
For those in high school, encourage your teens to set their own routines, but work on the reasonable bed time and early waking before day one.
3. Sleep.
Sleep patterns over the holidays may be pretty relaxed. Now is the time to reign this in. Primary school aged children should be having around 9-12 hours sleep per night while teenagers should aim for 8-10 hours each night.
Some children have difficulty winding down and falling asleep at night. Ensure that the hour before bedtime is calm, and avoid the use of screens such as iPads and phones, which emit blue light and reduce the body’s production of sleep hormones. If your child is struggling to get to sleep – talk to your GP to discuss other options which might help.
4. Communication.
If your child has had difficulties at school in the past – perhaps around settling in, or challenges with their learning, I recommend meeting with the teacher in advance to discuss your child and agree on some collaborative strategies to help make the start of the school year successful. If your child is engaged with any therapies, it can be useful to share these reports with the teaching staff to help them build an understanding of your child.
If your child has any underlying medical issues (such as asthma or allergy), ensure that your action plans are up to date and have these ready to provide to the school for their records.
5. Acknowledge first day nerves.
Many children will feel apprehensive about the return to school. This may be especially true for those starting at a new school, however often children returning to their old school will also feel a bit nervous. Acknowledge these emotions with your child. It might be useful to talk through particular scenarios that might be on your child’s mind. Remind them that it is quite normal to feel nervous in these situations, that despite their anxiety you have confidence in their ability to get through it, and offer reassurance that they will likely feel much better as they settle in.
For most children and families, the first week or two back at school means some readjusting. Be kind to yourselves, try not to schedule too many extra things in these early weeks, and allow your child space to unwind when they need to.
For some young people, school is a challenging environment, and the return to the new school year may not go according to plan. If your child is having difficulties, please find time to bring them to Neighbourhood Medical for an appointment with one of the child-focussed GP’s consulting from our clinic. This might help you understand what is going on for your child, and explore further support that might be available.
