Back to school

GOING back to school after a long break can be stressful for both parents and children. Besides shopping for school necessities, parents and children need to readjust themselves to getting back into the routine when school re-opens.

While it may be easier with older children who are experienced enough in coping with preparations to return to school, some extra effort and attention are required with children going to school for the very first time.

Children going to preschool or entering primary or even secondary school for the first time tend to have anxieties related to changes in their environment – new school, new teachers, new friends.

For toddlers and preschoolers, it means being separated from their caregivers, their familiar surroundings and their favourite toys.

Parents should prepare well ahead of time to help their children gear up for school. Start shopping early for all the supplies such as textbooks, stationery, school uniforms, bags and shoes.

Prepare a simple checklist of all the things your children need. Better still, if your children are old enough, ask them to make the list. Once the list is ready, go shopping with them and make it fun.

Involving children in these tasks helps prepare them mentally for school or look forward to going back again.

Purchase some activity books and games that are related to what your children have learnt to help refresh their memory. It becomes easier for them to reapply the knowledge when they get back to school.

For younger children who are going to school for the first time, this new experience could be both exciting and daunting. Some may be excited and view it as a new ‘adventure’ while others will be reluctant to leave their comfort zone.

Get storybooks or movies about going to school to help them imagine the experience and learn what to expect.

Visit the school with them or if the school has organised an open day, use the opportunity to get familiarised with the school surroundings and let your children learn where the classroom, toilets, playground and cafeteria are located.

Some kindergartens organise a field trip to a primary school for their graduating pre-schoolers.

This way, the children can observe and learn about the general set-up of a primary school, or even role-play a typical classroom scene to develop better awareness of the new environment they will be in the next year.

Find out if your children’s preschool has such an activity or you could suggest it to them.

Share with them your own good experiences about going to school. Tell them about the fun they could have with other children, and all the interesting activities and lessons the teacher will be teaching.

Start getting them into a routine that is like the one during school. Get them to bed and up at the same times as they would if it was a school day.

Their body rhythms will reset to the new routine and they will have more energy those first few mornings because it has become part of their regular day.

It also helps you to estimate how much time it will take to get them ready and out the door.

You, too, will sleep better and awake refreshed minus the stress of last-minute shopping and knowing that you are prepared for the tears and fears if they creep up on you and your children.