It’s back to school time!
The summer holidays can feel like they’re lasting forever to a child, but all of a sudden they’re nearly over! It’s time to get ready, emotionally and practically, and so we have some quick tips to help!
Last few days to prepare…
Let your child try on their uniform to get used to the feel of it. It doesn’t have to be stiff and starchy, brand new on the first day of term.
Before your child’s bedtime, get used to creating a pile of clothes for the next morning in the order that your child puts the items on i.e. pants on the top of the pile, not the bottom!
Talk about the change to the morning routine (in particular) and do some practise early breakfasts.
Make some packed lunches (with your child) to get them in the swing of what they’ll eat when they’re back at school. If they have school dinners, then talk about what they might be having. You can even check the school website to see if there’s a sample menu.
Talk about timetables, what to do at break and lunch time, where to go if they are feeling worried or who to talk to.
There will be lots of exciting things to talk about too. Hopes, aspirations and things your child is looking forward to… listen and enjoy the chat, as it will help your child and you get ready for the start of term.
If your child has a transition book, make sure you look at it together and answer any questions that may crop up. It's OK to not know the answers, as that shows your child that it’s fine to be curious.
You can even do some practise walks or drives to school, to make the route or journey a visual one, as well as to know how long it will take. This can really help to reduce nerves.
When school has started, the end of the day transition is a time when children’s bodies, brains and emotions can let out a BIG sigh!
School is tiring. A new classroom, possibly a new teacher or teachers, lots of hubbub being back together after so long, getting used to the routine again and school rules, and then there's the learning. Children’s bodies and brains will need to work super hard to get back in the swing of things.
Theres no rush to sign your child up to clubs or to arrange playdates. A gentle start can be so much kinder to your child, and you.
Some children like/need to ‘chill’ and to switch off for a while after a busy day at school. In the last few days of the holidays, you could work with them to create a corner of a room or their bedroom, with a beanbag, supply of mindful activities like colouring or drawing, a favourite book or magazine, mazes or Lego.
Other children are the opposite and like/need lots of big movement to manage the same transition. If your child is one of these, then identify some key activities (not too many to choose from, as that can add to the challenge). Things like trampolining, bike riding, a dog walk (or a walk without a dog!), or football with a friend who lives nearby.
Here's the key thing: At breakfast time on school days, talk about the activity your child is going to choose when they get home, as this can give them the ‘next’ thing to do, to help switch from school day structure to more free-flow home life. Put it on a post-it note on the fridge, or a schedule (for those who like schedules). Then at the end of the school day, there’s no indecision but a clear plan, and honestly, your child and you will reap the benefit.
Children’s ‘jobs’ are to go to school. Just as adults have to navigate busy working days and juggle home life, the same can be said for our children. If we feel exhausted with all we have to squeeze into our days, then they do too, and possibly even more so because they’re also growing, developing people!
Emma Puttock
Children’s Occupational Therapist