Back to school tips

With the start of a new schooling year just around the corner, it’s time to get back into the usual school routine. However, this can be hard to do after six weeks of sun, sand and very little study. Our back to school tips can help you get the kids back into the groove and prepare them for the year ahead.

Get sleep schedules back on track

It is easy for bedtime to slip later into the evening during summer, resulting in some epic sleep-ins the next day. However, sleeping through alarms on the first day back isn’t conducive to a good start to the schooling year. In the days before Term One begins, consider reinstating your child’s regular wake up and bedtime routine to help prevent any oversleeping. Not only will it improve their alertness and concentration in the classroom, it’ll also help ward off the grumpiness that often accompanies the post-holiday return to school.

Tackle that pile of holiday homework

Let’s be frank – there are much more important things to do on the summer holidays than sit at a desk hunched over homework. If your child was given work to complete over the break, they’ve no doubt done a great job of avoiding it thus far. However, unearthing that dusty pile of school books and chipping away at assigned tasks in the days before school resumes will help set your kids up for the year ahead. They will begin familiarising themselves with the year’s curriculum, and it can absorb the shock they get when the volume of homework inevitably increases.

Get the kids involved in back to school organisation

It is easier said than done, but taking the time to prepare for school reduces stress on both you and your children. It’s also a great way for you to get the kids excited about school when you get them involved. Take your child stationery, uniform and food shopping with you – allowing them to provide their own input where appropriate can give them something to look forward to about returning to school. It could involve choosing a new school bag, trying on their uniform to get the correct size or suggesting possible lunch ideas at the supermarket. If you struggle to think of worse things than taking your child shopping, why not sit down with them beforehand and plan what to get? Give your child a brief outline of the shopping list, and encourage them to offer suggestions that work within your parameters. You could even look online together before you hit the shops to get an idea of what they do and don’t like.

Create an area that is all about school

Whether it is a spare space on the kitchen wall or a one-stop station in the corner of the living room, creating an area that is dedicated to school is a great way to prepare. Keeping all important dates, forms and supplies in one place aids organisation throughout the year, as both you and the kids can stay on top of things. Consider what works best for your family – a homework caddy suits younger children, while a noticeboard is great for older students. Keep some extra stationery supplies up your sleeve to help ward off any homework-related meltdowns, and encourage your children to get into the habit of pinning up any important forms or notices.