It’s that time of the year again where we say goodbye (or perhaps a sigh of relief!) to the summer holidays and see our little ones return to school for the new academic year, or for some of you it might be your child’s first day at school. If you’re feeling nervous or unprepared – don’t worry we’ve got you. Below is a handy list of tips to help keep you organised and ready for the school rush, whilst easing any worries for you or your child starting school for the first time:
- Talk through what to expect – if your child is starting school for the first time, it may be helpful to run through with them what to expect when going to school. This could be from telling them the name of the school, what their teachers are called or what sort of activities they will be doing whilst at school. It will be natural for them to be nervous as this will be a big step for them and yourself, so talking to them and reassuring them that it’s OK to feel nervous and their teacher is there to help them will help.
- Create a checklist of school essentials – there will be a lot of items you will need for your child’s return, so writing a list of what you need to buy will be very helpful. Items such as uniform, new shoes, pencil case, school bag, PE kit and bag are some of the essentials that can go on your list! You can also make this a fun shopping trip for you and your little one to get them excited about school, and letting them pick items to make them feel involved.
- Practice makes perfect – it may be useful to get your child practising putting on their uniform and PE kit, as they will have to do this themselves when changing for PE lessons. When they try their uniform on, get them to practise fastening and unfastening any buttons, zips, velcro, as this will make it a lot easier for them when it comes to doing themselves.
- Prepare the night before – this will save a huge amount of time and worry in the morning if you have everything organised beforehand. Ironing the school uniform, preparing their packed lunch and packing their school bag the night before will make for a quicker and easier process in the morning – and also means you have time for taking those first day at school pictures!
- Be kind to yourself – as much as this may be nerve wracking for your child, this can be a difficult time for you as a parent as well adjusting to this change. It’s important to be kind to yourself during this time and make sure you take care of yourself – the house may feel quiet but also means you have time to focus on activities you enjoy doing, such as picking up a hobby, having more time to focus on work or seeing friends!
