Back to school

It is time again for back to school……

So the summer is drawing to an end and it is time to go back to school or to start school or to start in a new school…

We can all experience this differently – the relief that the summer has ended and the children go back to school and a chance for you as a parent to have a few more hours to catch up on work, life, admin and laundry. To be not asked what are we doing, can I have the ipad or can I have a snack. For other parents they may fear the return to school and morning schedule battles and homework and tied to a tight schedule and routine. Others may feel a mix of both or something completely different.

The children also have a range of emotions, scared, nervous, excited, happy, a mixture of all. Dreading a new teacher or a classroom full of new potential friends, or really looking forward to seeing old friends or a fresh start.

Wherever you as a parent are or wherever your child is there are things that can help and enhance the start of school year.

First sleep – give your child a chance in the last week of summer to get back on a school sleep schedule, try to get them moving in the morning and in to bed at a reasonable hour or close to in the evenings.

Make sure they have been involved in getting school ready, digging out back packs, water bottles, trying on shoes or uniforms. Where possible (at all ages) involve them in the labelling and sorting of school items. You may think it is easier to do it yourself but the more they know the more they are likely to take ownership and the potential to lose most items in the first week is reduced.

Talk to them about what they are worried about and what they are excited about, this is often best done on a walk or in the car or perhaps while doing a shared task. The pressure of face to face conversation is off and they are more likely to chat openly. Also if you want your child to share you can share how you are feeling now or how you felt going back to school.

Some children will need a dry run on a uniform or new shoes or new coats. To prevent the sore feet or tricky buttons practice in advance and also put plasters on ahead of the shoes rubbing rather than after the blister has taken hold. Much easier to get the foot into the shoe without the blister!

Also think about anything they made need to get a little head start on, perhaps they are going to restart piano or need to read a. certain book that got side lined. Perhaps there is still time to teach them to tie their tie or shoelaces.

Remember that going back to school is different for everyone and know that each child is different and while some go unfazed and thrive others will struggle and find the transition hard. Be present and observant and give them time to adjust.

A special section for the children starting school for the very first time, known in the UK as reception children and in Ireland as Junior infants it is very important to start thinking about how ready they are for school…

If we are honest we possibly should have thought about it sooner but that is not always possible and as someone who truly believes it is never too late to start then we can still prep our kids.

If they have been to nursery or preschool they may have already learned how to line up when asked, sit on the carpet and following group instructions for approximately 10 minutes. Whether they have been at nursery or not they need to know   how to ask to use the loo, wipe themselves and wash their hands with minimal help.  Can they eat with a fork and spoon, carry a tray or open their lunch box. Do they know how to wait their turn and be ok with being second or last in the line. Do they understand that you will come back at the end of the day.

It may seem like a lot but these are all the precursors to be able to learn in the classroom before they ever pick up a pen or learn their first sound. They must be school ready, ready to pay attention for a few minutes, be able to wait, and have some basic self help skills including putting on and off their shoes and coat.

If your child has yet to learn these skills pick something each week that you can teach them or start to expect from them and it is ok to help and ok to support and ask a teacher’s support but let’s see how we can support our children as much as we can to be ready to thrive at school