That Time Already: It's Back to School
A Parent's Guide to Preparing Your Young Person To Return For A New Term
The end of summer often signals a mix of emotions for both parents and teenagers—a blend of relief and perhaps a touch of anxiety as the new school term approaches. But fear not, with a bit of preparation, this transition can be smooth and even exciting. Here's a guide to help you and your teen gear up for a successful return to school.
So what do I do?
Here are some ideas of what you can do to smooth the return, as much as possible:
Ease Back into a Routine: Summer is usually a relaxed schedule and more than a few late nights. Try to reintroduce school-year routines a week or two before the first day of term. This means earlier bedtimes, early wake-up times, and regular meal schedules. It'll help your child’s body clock adjust and avoid those first-day-back groggy mornings.
Organise and Stock Up: You need the following to signal to your child that it is nearly that time. Take them with you if you can to send that signal in a strong way and involve them. Try not to make a day of it if you can, and be gentle with this. Grab the following on your travels:
School Supplies: Maybe before you set up, you can both sit down and create a list of necessary supplies—this might include notebooks, pens, a rucksack, a laptop/tablet (if necessary), and any subject-specific items.
Wardrobe Check: Go through their wardrobe together. See what fits, what needs replacing, and what they might be excited to wear on the first day back.
Healthy Snacks: Stock up on nutritious snacks for after-school hunger. Think fruits, vegetables, yoghurt, nuts, and whole-grain options.
Re-establish Good Study Habits: Encourage your teen to start revisiting their study space and materials. If they have summer assignments, help them create a plan to complete them before the deadline. Even if there's no homework, dedicating a bit of time each day to reading or reviewing can help get them back into a learning mindset. If your child is younger than this, maybe try and together decide a time when they will do their reading or homework after school and see if you can visually plan this together.
Open Communication: Talk to your child about their feelings regarding the new term. Are they excited, nervous, or a bit of both? Address any concerns they might have, whether it's about academics, social dynamics, or new teachers. Let them know you're there to support them.
Encourage Extracurricular Activities: School isn't just about academics. Extracurriculars are a great way for children explore interests, make friends, and develop new skills. Discuss potential activities with your teen and support their choices. They might not be affiliated with school, so have a Google too.
Prioritise Sleep: Teenagers need ~10 hours of sleep per night for optimal physical and mental health, and children need ~8 hours. Ensure they're getting enough rest, especially in the days leading up to the new term.
Technology Balance: Set clear expectations around technology use. While devices can be helpful for learning, it's important to establish limits to avoid distractions and ensure healthy sleep habits. Together, you can maybe agree a contract or a visual schedule, or a reward scheme. The boundaries are important as tech can distract us from all sorts of good things.
Positive Attitude: Your attitude can significantly impact your teen's outlook on school. Show enthusiasm for their learning journey and celebrate their efforts, big or small.
Remember, the transition back to school is a process. Be patient, supportive, and understanding. With a bit of preparation and open communication, you can help your teenager start the new term on a positive note.
And in short?
Even though it happens every year, it can be a bit of a curveball still. Re-learning a routine you didn’t even like can be a challenge for anybody, but definitely for children. Structure it for them to make it as smooth as possible.
Can you help me?
Absolutely! Contact me to arrange a chemistry/discovery call with me—with no charge, and free from obligation. Or just to pick my brains if you don’t need ongoing support (I might have to charge for this so there are brains remaining for others to pick!).
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Final thoughts
It need not be daunting, even though I did just make a big long list of things to do. The important thing I hope you take away is that you do not need to do them all at once, and having a list helps you structure this for you too. You have got this.
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