Are you dreading the start of the new school year? Is your first day back always a rush? There are so many little bits to get for the start of a new school year. New shoes, uniforms, bags, lunch-boxes, pens, pencils, PE kits – the list goes on and on. And generally as they get older, it becomes more complicated. And sometimes in the chaos of getting all these little parts in place, we forget to organise that first morning back. Here are our thoughts on how to prepare for the new school year…
Read our back to school story here.
A Guide to the First Day of the New School Year
1. The Importance of Being Organised
If you want to be able to be a more present parent on your child’s first day back to school, to have time to take the photo, to have the space to offer reassurance and listen to any concerns, anxieties and anticipations, then it pays to put in a little bit of planning beforehand for the actual first morning itself.
Once you have been in the school system for a few years, its easy to forget the importance of that first morning. The value in trying to find calm and stability in all the newness of the first day back at school.
So take the time to plan what you need to do before, what has to be done on the morning itself and what can be left until later.
2. The Night Before School is Vital
Do as much as possible the night before. Get uniforms laid out, bags packed, lunches made. Going through some of the school rituals when you have a bit more space and time can help the whole family to regulate the emotional changes that the new school year will bring.
By doing as much as possible the night before, you will remove some of the rush and chaos from the morning itself. It removes pressure from parents to get everything ready when really your children are seeking that last bit of connection and reassurance before they head off for a day of changes.
3. It's Not a Normal Morning
Regardless of how many years your children have been going to school, whether they are looking forward to being back in the classroom or whether they are dragging their feet – the first day of a new school year is not a normal day. New routines will be established. Old rhythms need to be remembered. There will be new teachers, possibly new friends, new classrooms to be navigated and timetables to be learnt.
So as its not going to be a normal day anyway, why not plan a special treat to go with breakfast? Or something nice to do together after school? Why not make a little back to school tradition of your own for something that the whole family can look forward to?
Going back to the school routine after a long break can feel jarring for everyone, both physically and mentally, so a little change to the norm can help everybody to adjust.
4. The Pressure of the School Photo
Your social media will be flooded with happy, smiling, smartly dressed children heading off to school without a complaint or an anxious thought. And it can add a load of pressure to a morning that is full of adjustment anyway.
It adds a time pressure because you now have to add another thing into an already tightly-squeezed schedule. It adds an emotional pressure as you suddenly are confronted with your child growing another year older. And for those children who are absolutely dreading the new school year, who are anxious and distracted, it adds a performance pressure that isn’t necessary.
So think about what is best for your family. Is it the right thing for your kids for a family photo session before school? Can you take a picture the day before? Or when they get home from school? Or later in the week, once some of the newness has worn off.
5. Share Your Story
The quiet after a full summer of kids can be difficult to adjust to. Being free of little people once you leave the school gates can be a relief but it can also bring mixed emotions. You don’t have to celebrate their absence if you don’t want to. And at the same time, its normal to feel the relief of having some space and time again.
As part of your adjustment to the new school year, take some time to acknowledge your own feelings with a friend, partner or family member.
More Information on Heading Back to School
Here are some more tips to help you with the transition back to school.
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