Uniform. Shoes. Packed lunches. School emails. New beginnings. Take it all in your stride by getting ahead this summer
School’s out for summer.
No more herding kids out the door, grabbing sports kits and lunchboxes, pointing at coats on pegs and saying ‘shoes’ over and over, all to make sure they don’t miss register.
But while your kids might have already forgotten the morning routine, proactive parents are getting ahead for the new school year so September goes smoothly.
If your son or daughter is starting school for the first time, preparing now will give you more time to support them as they start full-time education – and luckily, reception class is full of play.
Looking smart
Stock up on school uniforms over summer: many supermarkets and high street stores have back-to-school sales so check their dates. Ask your child’s school if it holds second-hand sales, where cheaper prices take the sting out of how quickly clothes are outgrown.
Remember to label everything: your child’s jumper isn’t going to stand out in a pile of 30 others that are almost exactly the same. Name stamps or name stickers save time, are easy to use and will save you many trips to lost property.
Practice makes perfect
If your child is new to school, practise your morning routine and journey so it doesn’t come as a September surprise. Plan your travel: will your child take a scooter or bicycle on fine days? Do they need new or second-hand wheels? Will you drive when it’s raining? And if so, where will you park? Figure it out now and you won’t panic later…
Prepare for change
Starting school for the first time is a huge deal. Talk to your child about new teachers, arrange holiday playdates so there are some familiar faces in their class (and parents you know at the school gates) and read books about starting school over summer. It’s natural for kids to feel nervous. Ask what other emotions they’re feeling, too. Sharing your experiences of initial nerves when doing something new will help them to understand that it’s all a normal part of life.
Relax into the morning
There’s nothing like a rush to get the morning off to a bad start. Instead, prepare uniforms the night before and set off early on the school run so your child can settle, rather than running in for morning register.
Also, build in extra time for your child to take it easy and get ready at their own pace in the morning. This will help avoid a rush when trying to get out of the door on time.
Lunch of champions
School lunches (free to all state school pupils until the end of year two) or homemade lunches? If you – or your little one – chooses packed lunches, leave the broccoli battleground for home and choose food for school you know they enjoy eating.
Save time by preparing sandwiches for the week on a Sunday and freezing: they thaw by lunchtime. A multi-compartment bento box saves packaging that can be fiddly for small fingers.
After school chat
You might be eager to hear all about their day at school. But you might find it’s not that easy getting them to talk. If they’re young, don’t be disappointed if they’ve forgotten.
If they’re older and quiet after a tiring day, remember that school takes some getting used to and asking open questions like; ‘How was your day?’ will almost always get an automatic ‘Good’ response.
Instead, child experts recommend asking specifics to improve your chat: ‘What did you eat for lunch? What book are you reading in class? Who did you play with during breaktime?’ If your child is new to school, they may feel emotional or exhausted, so give them some time to decompress.
Offer support
Let your child know they can always chat to you about anything at school. If you have a teenager who is reluctant to confide, avoid eye-to-eye contact. Try conversations walking alongside them or sitting next to them in a car.
Psychologists say this can encourage open conversation. If you think your child is struggling, charities including Young Minds offer good advice. Remember: what works for others might not be right for child. You know them best and will be able to offer them the strongest support.
Make light work of admin
Don’t let the school admin mount up. There will be diary dates for non-uniform days, theme days and concerts, school pings and party invites (stock up on three-for-two birthday presents ahead of time when you see offers). Save time by replying promptly to invites and school requests for help on trips. Then you won’t have that horrible niggling feeling that you’ve forgotten something…
Get involved
Schools often need help from parents, whether that’s helping children read in class, raising funds as part of the Parent Teacher Association or giving career chats to teenagers. Joining in is a great way to get involved with the school community.
Join the class Whatsapp
No one wants more message alerts, but class Whatsapps are (mainly) a force for good. The number of notifications is outweighed by the relief when a parent reminds the class of an almost-forgotten non-school uniform day or cake sale.
If you’re new at the primary school gates this September, remember that by next summer, some of those strangers waiting awkwardly alongside you at the school gates will have become firm friends.
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