Back to School Sanity Savers

Switching from the zen of school holidays to the chaos of the first week of school can be a rude shock without a little planning. Here are some ideas to stop back to school turning back into a headache. Get back into a routine. Sleep routines often drift during the school holidays with your kids sleeping later each morning. To ensure they'll be fresh for the first day back at school, use the last week of the holidays to start waking them a little earlier each day until you're back to your school term morning routine. Good luck!

Break in new school shoes. When you buy new school shoes, encourage your kids to wear them around the house for an hour or two for a couple of days to both break them in and to blister-proof their feet.

All backpacks are not the same! When choosing a new school backpack, make sure that you choose one that fits your child's back. Even if your child has a heavy bag to carry each day, a bag that is the right size for them will make the load a lot easier to manage.

Choose a lunch box that works for your child.

There can be a bit of trial and error when it comes to finding that perfect lunch box, but you'll fast-track the process if you take the time to find out exactly how your kids eat their lunch. Quiz them on what they like to have in their lunch box. It's better to discover that your child trades their apple every day with a friend at the beginning of the year than at the end!

Label everything! Label the obvious stuff (hat, lunch box, school bag) and the not-so obvious stuff (shorts, tunic, undies). You'll be amazed by the ability your kids have to shed their possessions. And if your school has an Out of Uniform Day, be especially sure to label the fancy regular clothing that goes to school too.

Check there are no nasty surprises in the school bag.

A parent who has learnt the hard way will already have thoroughly cleaned out the school bag at the end of the school year, but those who weren't that clever should clean it out now to avoid a later run-in with a six-week old banana!

With a new school year, come new routines. Check you have all the practical details sorted. Do your kids need bus passes? A house key? An updated Important Phone Numbers list?

Take the time to talk to your kids about new routines.

You, no doubt, have everything organised in your head but have you communicated this? Talk through before or after School Care organisation, new bus routes, school pick-up routines and any other organisational changes they should be aware of.

Spend time with a special friend. If you've been away a lot during the school holidays, or you've mostly hung out together as a family, your kids may not have seen a lot of their friends during the summer. Organise a play date in the days leading up to the term commencing so your kids can reconnect with friends, which will help them slip right back into their comfort zone in the playground on that first day.