Back to School: 10 Tips to help with a smooth transition

Back to School | After a long, hot and balmy summer, the holidays are finally drawing to a close and the first day back at school is just around the corner. Whether it’s your little ones first year or fourth year, the first day back can be a pretty daunting time in a little person’s life… not to mention for us blubbering Mamas!

With this in mind we have put together 10 back to school tips for parents to help you and your bub transition smoothly and to ease any anxiety or worries that may be floating around in your home! 

1. School visit – whether it’s a drive by or an organised school visit, familiarising your child with their new environment will help to settle any nerves. 
2. Meet the teacher – ideally introduce your child to the teacher before the first day back. If this isn’t possible, try to find their photo on the school website or give them a call so your child knows who they are. 
3. Make connections – a familiar face can make all the difference! If you know another child in their class, try to refresh relationships and arrange a play date with them before school starts. 
4. Supply shopping – take your child on a fun shopping trip with you to buy their new supplies. Encourage them to choose a few items for themselves so they are excited to use them and show their new friends. 
5. Practice the morning routine – start setting the alarm and practicing your routine in the week leading up to the first day back. This will help them to feel more comfortable and make the morning run much smoother. 
6. Worry aids – toys such as Little Wuppy the worry puppy are a great way to provide children with comfort throughout the school day when parents can’t be there. The Interactive Worry Plaque is also a great tool that can help resolve any anxious feelings your child might have. The plaque glows red when the child places their hand on it and thinks about what’s worrying them. The plaque glows green when fairy magic takes their worries away.
7. Involve them in the preparation – encourage your child to help pack their backpack, make their lunch and lay out their uniform the night before to help start good habits. 
8. Positive conversations – point out the positive aspects of starting school to create positive anticipation about their first day such as meeting new friends and playing in the playground.
9. Relax – it’s easier said than done, but it’s worth remembering that children pick up on your feelings, so try your best to seem relaxed and calm (even if you are worried or stressed yourself!) 
10. Take photos – amongst all the mayhem in the morning, make sure you take a couple minutes to get a photo of your littles in their uniform so you can reminisce about the big day in years to come.