Tips to prepare your child for the new school year

The long summer holidays are over with and your children are back at school. The morning traffic has picked up again, and your family is getting back into routine. Normally, this happens without too much trouble, but some children can take a little longer to get back into routine.

Here are some tips to prepare your child for the new term!

• Waking up early is one of the things children dislike most about going back to school. If your child is resistant to waking up for school, try waking them up about 15 minutes earlier than they need to get up. That way, when they dawdle and you go in 15 minutes later, they will feel like they’ve had a lie-in.
• You will also need to put stricter bedtime rules back into play. Your children have probably become used to later bedtimes in the holidays. They will need to get back into a school routine. If you are not strict about this, your children will be tired at school, and be unable to concentrate.
• Ensure that your child has all the resources that they need for school. Most schools give out a stationery and book list at the end of the year for the new year. Check the existing stationery – some items may be in perfect condition and purchasing new items may not be necessary. If you normally buy new stationery every year anyway, consider donating the items from the previous year to a less-privileged school.  
• Check that school uniforms fit well. Children grow very quickly, and it is not uncommon for last years’ school trousers to be halfway up their legs, or the school skirt is suddenly way too short!
• Ensure that you have lunchboxes and healthy food choices available for your child’s school breaks. It is preferable not to supply tuckshop money every day in place of providing a healthy lunch. Your child will not get the nutrients they need. Tuckshop money should be a treat, given no more than once or twice per week.
• Help your children (if they are young), to pack their school bags the night before, or encourage older children to do the same. This eliminates the inevitable morning rush and all the stress it entails.
• Put a copy of their timetable, including extra-murals, on the fridge so that the correct books and sports equipment can be packed.
• If your child is stressed about keeping up at school, or you notice early signs of struggling, act quickly and hire a private tutor for your child. In the higher grades, your child may benefit greatly from a specialist maths or science tutor.
• Make sure your child has a quiet place to study and do their homework. If your child seems to be struggling with studying, or not enjoying their subjects, a Study Skills Crash Course is a great solution! If exams stress them out, they may need a reader or scribe.
• Communicate with your children daily. This prevents issues from coming into their lives which you know nothing about and which cause great problems later, such as bullying, failing a school subject or problems with friends. Your involvement in your children’s lives will help to create a happy, successful school year where they flourish and develop at an optimal level.

Written by: Natalie Wilke, BrightSparkz Staff & Blog Writer