Back to school guide with a difference

Are you worried about getting yourself and your child ready for back-to-school time?

Do you want more than the same tips on getting uniforms ready, saving money on school supplies and creating routines? Are you interested in helping your child develop life skills that will help them socially and academically? Then you’ll enjoy my back-to-school guide with a difference.

Friends

Did you know that studies have suggested that approximately 75% of your child’s time at school is spent in social interactions?

So, the quality of your child’s interactions with their teachers, peers and their friends has a significant impact on their success at school.

While you can’t pick your child’s friends, you can provide them with strategies that will help them select their friends wisely. You can start by helping your child understand that the idea of just one ‘best friend forever’ can lead to a lot of disappointment and unhappiness as arguments and change are inevitable. Instead encourage your child to enjoy having a number of friends. This is a good strategy as it is less likely to result in your child feeling isolated and alone when disagreements between children arise.

Encouraging your child to be open to diversity in their friendships and to befriend different kinds of people, some who share their own interests and culture and others who don’t, holds many advantages. A final tip is that a child on their own is more likely to want a friend than a child who’s already in a group.

Interacting positively with teachers is so important for you and your child, so take the time to get to know your child’s teachers.

Meet teachers

As you get closer to the back-to-school date organise for a tour of the school with your child and meet with their teachers.

Opening the lines of communication and building a friendly relationship with your child’s teacher will support your child in many ways! You can share any special needs your child may have and discuss any difficulties they may be experiencing.

Your child is more likely to feel more confident on the first day of class if they have already met their teacher. You can also understand more about the activities and new classes for the year and how much and the type of homework to expect.

Homework plays an important role in learning. While most children don’t ‘love’ the idea of doing homework, there are ways to help make it easier.

Homework area

Prepare a special area for your child to study and complete their homework after school. Ideally this is a clean and quiet space with no access to Internet or television.

Involve your child in the design so they feel part of the process and it is inviting for them. Let them know you’ll be available to help with homework once school starts and have their special homework space ready to go by the first day of school with all the school supplies they might need. A timer helps motivate children to complete their homework on time as they know it once it’s done they can play!

Preparing for homework after being away from school and enjoying the summer holidays can result in back-to-school anxiety.

Relieve back-to-school nerves and inspire your child

Talking about the upcoming school year and the changes your child might experience can help reduce some of their back-to-school anxiety. You can also motivate and inspire your child by discussing the exciting new classes, activities and events they can participate in during the year.

School is not always a good experience as it can be a source of problems and difficulties. Children will look to you for guidance and solutions until they can develop their own strategies.

A little kindness goes a long way..

A special surprise for your child

Prepare a little surprise like a personal note, a special photograph or even a treat and place it in your child’s bag for them to find throughout the day. This little surprise will show you care, reassure your child that they are loved and probably inspire a big smile!

On a final note, throughout the year remember to take care of yourself, as a tired and grumpy parent is no fun for anyone.

Happy parents make a happy household. It also sets a great example of work-life balance for your whole family.

You and your child are now ready to start a new school year with confidence! This will make the transition back to school easier and will also help your child develop the key life skills they need to lead a happy and successful life.

For more parenting ideas and resources for helping your child develop key life skills like good self esteem, communication skills, and resilience see my blog.

Main image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

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49 Comments

- - mom19782016 said
  - 18 Jan 2018
    8:41 pm
Some lovely tips, thanks for sharing them.

- - rovermum said
  - 15 Jan 2018
    5:42 pm
My son’s heading back to school for his final year – Year 12 so we’re fairly sorted. Big expectations for what will be and how we manages his last year of Secondary School. Bittersweet really.

- - rachel1970 said
  - 17 Oct 2017
    6:34 am
I love popping little notes in my kids lunch boxes. This was a good reminder to do it again as I haven’t done it for a couple of months!

- - Ellen said
  - 17 Oct 2017
    4:27 am
Great tips. Our kids need all different ways to support them. My son (yr6) always needs lots of chasing to do his homework, while my daughters don’t need any stimulation with that at all.
My 13 year old daughter started high school this year. School has become far more about social interactions, boyfriends girlfriends, arguments, bullying and drama. Teenagers can be very mean !
Much coaching required…

- - rovermum said
  - 16 Oct 2017
    5:25 pm
We spend a lot of time and effort in transitioning our son from year to year. He is now in Term 4 of Year 11 and we’re very mindful of what that means, heading into his final year next year. I’ve been known to offer gifts for effort put into assessments and exams when he is really struggling. It is always a work in progress, but, as a family, we’re very much into working through it together.

- - ella12 said
  - 03 Oct 2017
    3:49 pm
I love these ideas – especially the special surprise gift!

- - mom81879 said
  - 19 Nov 2015
    7:58 am
What a great little list! And you’re right, it was a different get ready for school list compared to the usual ones. Hasn’t put much thought into any of the above

- - smiles said
  - 30 Apr 2015
    2:14 pm
I love the special surprise my kids love notes in their lunch box

- - mom113055 said
  - 10 Mar 2015
    3:06 pm
sounds awesome and looks great

- - rachkap said
  - 17 Feb 2015
    3:19 am
Great tips thank you so much!

- - GeoEllie said
  - 31 Jan 2015
    9:55 am
Love the dedicated homework area thought
- dr rosina mcalpine replied
  
  31 Jan 2015 , 1:22 pm
  Let me know how it goes
- - Lov'n'Life said
  - 30 Jan 2015
    3:32 pm
thank you for an informative article

- - mom113712 said
  - 30 Jan 2015
    1:59 pm
I had a very easy time this year both my kids were happy to be going back couldn’t wait to see their friends
- dr rosina mcalpine replied
  
  30 Jan 2015 , 3:18 pm
  Yes I had the same experience with our son… he loved his first day back!
- - mom64736 said
  - 28 Jan 2015
    2:26 pm
Being positive about school will help kids to foster the same energy.

- - mom57808 said
  - 24 Jan 2015
    7:52 am
yes somethings to think about here hey

- - mom103920 said
  - 24 Jan 2015
    12:00 am
Very interesting reading, thankyou. This year, I send two children to high school, one to primary school, and one still under school age. Reading this article made me smile and reflect on the conversations I’ve had with each child on their thoughts of returning to school, homework and routines. Most outstanding is my son commencing high school has more concerns about the changing relationships with friends than he ever had in primary school. Our talks have been age appropriate and focussed on their different worries and reactions. We’ve had the homework routine in play for many years, but this year, I’ve even set aside reading books and scribble paper so my toddler can join in quietly at homework time.
- dr rosina mcalpine replied
  
  30 Jan 2015 , 3:21 pm
  Thanks for taking the time to share your reflections. Too cute! You’re setting up great habits when your toddler is already “doing homework” with the older siblings… wonderful!
- - cherz said
  - 23 Jan 2015
    9:48 pm
Great tips and very helpful article..thanks for sharing.

- - sassysonya said
  - 23 Jan 2015
    9:32 am
All the above suggestions are invaluable. Thanks!
- dr rosina mcalpine replied
  
  23 Jan 2015 , 11:05 am
  So glad to be of help!!! Thanks for taking the time to let me know
- - aliceou said
  - 22 Jan 2015
    1:14 pm
I am a bit worry about back to the school routines.
- dr rosina mcalpine replied
  
  23 Jan 2015 , 11:04 am
  What worries you – maybe I or the community can help.
- - rovermum said
  - 19 Jan 2015
    10:44 am
Two weeks out, and we’re about to start the preparation for back to school. A little earlier nights, quieter days, book prep, uniform prep, and checking school details. Slowly, slowly so we’ll be prepared by Feb 2.
- dr rosina mcalpine replied
  
  19 Jan 2015 , 12:29 pm
  Sounds like you have this all under control… good for you! thanks for the tips