Prepare for the 2020 school year with our back-to-school tips. From establishing sleeping patterns to practising brain exercises, there are plenty of strategies you can use to ensure that your children are ready for the new school year. With proper preparation, you can decrease the stress that’s associated with this busy period. Find bags, Tupperware, toys, books, and more on Junk Mail.
Get all the school supplies ready
From
stationery to books, bags, and lunch boxes, you need to make sure that you
check everything off the school supplies list before your children go back to school,
preferably as soon as possible.
Make
sure you know the rules about book covering before you buy covers/paper.
Schools usually give out papers to stick onto their books to ensure everyone’s
books look the same. Getting this sorted will relieve stress and get your kids
excited about the new school year.
Additional tips:
- Before
you buy stuff you don’t actually need, do proper “stocktake” of the school
supplies you have left from last year. - Don’t
send your kids to school with their newest and best supplies during the first
week. - You
can cut erasers in half or in 3 pieces, so if your child loses it, it’s not a
train smash. - Mark
absolutely everything. You can engrave (if possible) or use a permanent marker.
Just make sure the markings are legible and unique to your child.
Buying school clothes
When
buying school uniforms, make sure to take your children with you and let them
fit everything before you buy it. It’s also advisable to buy clothes a tiny bit
bigger to ensure they don’t grow out of their uniforms too quickly. You want to
get the most value for money.
Should
your children’s school uniforms no longer fit, you can either donate them to
the school, resell them to other parents you know or even sell them on Junk
Mail.
Set up a dedicated “homework station”
Create
a space with your child where they can do their homework or school projects.
This space needs to be big enough, away from distractions, and comfortable for
your children.
Establish sleep patterns
The
holidays are likely to disrupt your family’s usual routine, including the kids’
sleeping patterns. Prepare for the new school year by re-establishing their
regular bedtime routine at least a week before the holidays end. While your
children may protest at first, be consistent in getting them back into a
routine. A good night’s sleep plays a vital role in your children’s emotional
wellbeing as well as their academic performance.
Introduce healthy eating
Disruptions
to your schedule during the holidays mean you’re unlikely to maintain regular mealtimes.
The abundance of sweets and chocolates that are part of the festive season
celebrations also disrupt healthy eating patterns. Start with a nutritious
eating plan and regular mealtimes as soon as you can. Proper nutrition helps
your children have enough energy to get through the school day. It also helps
your children focus in the classroom while promoting their physical and
emotional wellbeing.
Re-establish rules about screen time
Although
screen time can be fun and educational for your kids, too much of it during the
week might affect their routines negatively and take away from much-needed
family time. Rules about screen time will also help when your kids have to do
homework or study for a test. Make sure you explain the rules about screen time
and try to re-enforce those rules a week before your kids go back to school.
Practice effective communication
Make
sure that you keep the communication lines open between you and your children
so that they know that they can approach you with any of their fears or
concerns. Have a family meeting before the new school year starts so that your
children have an opportunity to express how they’re feeling. You can also use
this time to provide them with information about any changes that are taking
place and to answer their questions. This is particularly important if your
child is starting at a new school.
Don’t stress
The back-to-school period can
invoke anxiety in parents and children alike. However, with proper preparation,
you can ease into the new school year with minimal stress. Returning to school
requires some adjustments so you can expect to face a few challenges during the
first few weeks of term. Use your support system and take care of yourself so
that you can remain calm during this hectic period. When you’re relaxed and
supportive, your children are more likely to be calm too.
Start with brain exercises
After
a long holiday, your children’s concentration levels will have decreased.
Gently prepare them for the new school year by practising a few brain exercises
in the week before the term starts. You can ask your children to read to you
each day as well as doing a few fun math exercises together. Reading your
children a bedtime story is a great opportunity to spend quality time with
them. Ask them a few questions about the story as you go along to improve their
comprehension capabilities.
You
can also take your children on fun, but educational outings, such as visiting
museums, the zoo, animal rescue centres or even taking them to pottery and
cooking classes.
Set goals
Goals
are an excellent way to stay motivated as the year progresses but it’s
important to avoid putting to pressure on your children. Excessive pressure can
damage your children’s self-esteem and it can also be detrimental to their
academic achievements. Allow your children to set their own goals and help them
to create steps on how they will reach their goals. Remind them that their
academic achievement is not a reflection of their self-worth and that there are
many other qualities that are also important, such as kindness, courage, and
empathy.
Now that you’ve read our back-to-school tips, you can approach the new academic year with confidence. Visit Junk Mail today to find a wide variety of bags, Tupperware, toys, books, and much more.
More back-to-school articles:
- Your complete back to school guide
- Back to school essentials – How to cut the costs
- 10 crazy and cool back-to-school DIY ideas
- Back-to-school Tips