Preparing for a successful year
The approaching start of the school year can bring its own mix of feelings for parents and youngsters heading to school.
You might well feel ready to see them head off into someone else’s care for five days a week and they might feel the excitement of a new school, new friends and new challenges.
But they might also feel nervousness about the changes ahead - a new teacher, perhaps separation from old friends; even fear if it means facing up again to a teacher or youngster that they haven’t got on well with in the past.
Be sensitive to this. Here are some tips for the back-to-school transition. ❚ It’s important to re-establish routines after a casual summer timetable. Ease back into a school routine the week before school starts. This includes getting up earlier in the morning which may be an issue to start with, especially for teenagers - best not to leave it till the last minute or you’ll have a stressful first day back morning. ❚ Practise the route to school if your child is walking or biking, check if the school has a walking bus organised. If a bus is to be the transport, check bus timetables and go over safety around the bus. ❚ If needed, think about afterschool arrangements and have these in place before school starts. ❚ Establish a small fund of notes and coins for the days when they suddenly remember they need money and all you have in your wallet is plastic. ❚ Have a calm time the weekend before school begins and don’t plan any major outings which will generate over excitement. ❚ Be positive - children absorb a parent’s anxiety, so be optimistic and confident for your child. Show them that you believe they will enjoy being at school and participating in new experiences. ❚ Let your child know that it is natural to be a little nervous anytime you start something new but that it will be just fine once he or she becomes familiar with classmates, the teacher and school routine. Reinforce their ability to cope but let your child know you care. ❚ If your child is anxious about school, send personal notes in the lunch box or back pack. ❚ If you drop them off at school, try not to linger. Reassure them that you love them, will think of them during the day, and will be back.