At the start of the school year we are literally melting from the heat and humidity, let alone the busyness and stress of getting kids back to school.
Getting organised early saves you stress as a parent and also helps your kids feel a lot more settled as they get rolling into the school year. Here’s few things we find helpful and hope you do to.
- Get a calendar of events – Map out the school year on a wall calendar in a place that everyone can see it. Include important school dates, holidays, sports carnivals, swimming lessons, school camps etc. Write any school contact details on here and also in your phone, and your partner can access them also if needed. Kids like seeing things mapped out in front of them.
- Introduce yourself to the teacher – Go and say high to your kids teacher. Why? … because the teacher will know you are interested and your kids will know you are interested in them and what happens in their classroom. They might think twice about their behaviour in class if they know that you know their teacher quite well. Also give them your email address in case they need to contact you or send a message. Remember it’s never too late to introduce yourself (well maybe the last day of school would be a bit pointless).
- Get any online communication sorted: Many schools communicate through online formats these days for example the School Bag app sends out reminders and alerts to your phone. You may be able to order tuckshop online so get that sorted early, and once again give your teacher your email address in case they need to contact you about anything.
- Make a quiet consistent place for your children to do their homework. Let the homework battle begin? Unfortunately for some of us this will be the case but one thing in particular that will be helpful is finding a quiet place that your child can do their homework that they go to consistently week in week out. Make it a place that is accessible for you so you can easily sit down and help them if they need it. One of the most valuable things about homework is your ability to keep up with what’s going on with the curriculum and being able to help your kids with their learning.
- Sleep – make sure they are getting enough. Transitions like the start of the school year are tiring and can create stress for kids even if the transition from holidays is going well. It’s not rocket science but good sleep reduces stress, increases concentration and makes for happier kids in general. Also as a parent it’s really important to look after yourself and get proper sleep too!
- Good breakfast, good lunch: Food impacts a child’s energy and concentration so start the day with good food and continue with their school lunches. Some good brain foods kids will like include, eggs, greek yoghurt, greens, fish (tins of tuna), nuts and seeds, oatmeal (which is not porridge), apples and plums. Obviously you can’t give your child a lunchbox full of these items and expect them to be happy about it, but try and include a few in different forms that they will find tasty. Good luck 🙂
- Explore their school together: If your kids are new to a school or starting school for the first time, go for a walk around the campus with them. Point out important places like the tuckshop and library, ovals and the office. Sure their teacher will do this with them, but it’s also an opportunity for you to share and explore their environment together.
