The transition between the holidays and starting or going back to school can often be full of mixed emotions.
So primary school teacher Miss B, known on TikTok as Lil’ Miss Sunshinee, shared her tips for parents on getting kids ready for the new school year ahead.
Positive vibes
Back-to-school time can be full of mixed emotions.
Returning or starting school leaves many children with unanswered questions: “Who will my teacher be?” “Who will be in my class?”
Have a conversation with your child, listen to their worries, and respond in a calm and supportive manner to help them navigate this transitional time.
Remind them of the positives! They will be able to play with their friends again, see their teachers and learn new things.
Read all about it
Reading is a great way to share time with your child, spark their imagination, and maintain routine.
Reading books about going back to or starting school can help relieve some of those first-day jitters.
Not only can the story provide your child with a sense of what the transition might be like, they can also get a boost of confidence as the story unfolds.
Reading these books can offer an opportunity for your child to share their feelings.
Set goals
Goal-setting is a big part of learning.
Encourage your child to set some goals to help them get into the right frame of mind for school. They can be academic or social goals, or a new habit, such as packing their schoolbag before bed every night.
This could even be a great time for the whole family to set some goals. You can cheer each other on and celebrate everyone’s wins!
Have some fun!
Children are quick to pick up on our attitudes towards things, so creating a positive energy towards the back-to-school lead-up can help.
Build anticipation by going shopping together and buying school supplies.
They can pick out their lunchbox and pencil case and fill it with a fabulous collection of pens and markers.
Ease into routine
It can be helpful to start waking up earlier little by little in the days leading up to the first day back.
Getting back into a bedtime routine can also help.
For some families, this might mean enforcing a ‘no electronics’ rule the hour before bedtime or having dinner a little earlier.
Get organised
The first back-to-school morning might be a whirlwind for the whole family!
Back to waking up early, packing lunches, organising uniforms, and making sure you get everyone to where they need to be.
The more organised you can be, the easier the first back-to-school morning will be.
Planning the morning routine might be a whole family affair, so ensure you are all on the same page.
This might include figuring out what time you need to wake up, sharing responsibilities such as breakfast and packing lunches, and laying out your child’s uniform the night before.
