Surely, most of us find the weekend as the best part of the week and the holidays as the best part of the year. During the recent holidays, we’re pretty sure you had a great time with the family—enjoying feasts for days and relaxing at home in your pajamas all day. Unfortunately, these special times don’t last forever, and we all need to go back to our normal lives, including going back to school.
Going back to school after a long break is perhaps every child’s nightmare. And parents often get exhausted trying to get their kids back into the groove of school. If you’re going through the same thing, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here are some of the tips for you.
Tips to help your kids get back to school
1. Set up a routine
I know it’s already been a few weeks since school started, but it’s never too late to start setting up (or re-setting up) a routine. Ideally, this should have been done a few days before the start of school, but you can still apply it today by having your kids sleep and wake up at a certain time. If they’re able to stick to this schedule, they’ll get used to it be able to get back into the grove again in no time.
2. Motivate your kids
It can be hard for your kids to think about the good things they’ve had in school with the recent events clouding them. However, reminding them of all the fun they can have once they go back to school can definitely help them look forward to it. Tell them that they’re teacher called you and said they already miss you child. Or, you can remind them about how they can play in the school playground with their friends again after school hours. These help them look at the brighter side of school and make them want to be there again.
3. Help them get their things ready for going back to school
Sometimes, teachers give their students homework over the holidays. Help them go through their assignments and be there to assist them. If there’s none, help your kids prepare their stuff—notebooks, pens, markers, and other materials they’ll need. If there’s extra cash to spend, buy them one special something to help them look forward to going back to school. Perhaps a new set of scented markers, a nice pair of shoes, or a colourful bow. It doesn’t have to be expensive. You can even just make a small note and insert it in one of the first books they’ll open in class that says ‘you’ve got this’, ‘I love you’, or ‘see you later’.
4. Prepare their favourite (healthy) breakfast
What can be better than waking up to the aroma of bacon, eggs, and pancakes in the morning? It’s not just going to be a filling morning, but you’ll also make them anticipate what’s going to be for breakfast the next day. Besides, you want your kids to be active in school, and giving them a hearty meal is going to make a huge difference. It’s also important to keep their food healthy to promote nutrition.
5. Help them with homework
By helping them, I’m not saying do it for them. Simply remind them to do their homework as soon as they come home. If there’s anything they need help with— a research work or something that they don’t understand, help them by explaining it to them and citing an example. This way, they’ll understand the lesson better while knowing that you are there for them.
6. Commend your child
Did your child wake up without crying or protesting? Commend him. Did he change into his school uniform by himself or with your help but with willingness and cooperation? Commend him. Did he eat his lunch? Commend him. Did he do his homework? Commend him. Did he help out in cleaning the kitchen after dinner? Commend him.
Commending your child for doing well and for not doing things he shouldn’t do will make him see the path he should take. You don’t even have to give him a reward. Simply telling him he’s being a good person works wonders.
The good news about this part of life is that you’re not alone in it. Everyone else is going through it. So, just be there for your child and they’ll be in the groove again to go back to school.