Back to school tips for every stage

Getting back into the swing of things after a long holiday can be rather challenging. Especially at the beginning of a new year where there are so many new beginnings – starting a new grade or going to a new school – this can be hard for both children and parents. Hence, we thought we’d share some tips and advice on how you can prepare to go back to school regardless of the level.

Preschool

Sending your little one to a preschool is hard for any parent – they grow up so fast. So what can you do to make this great event run smoothly?

Do the prep. Make sure you have everything you need, and that everything is labelled.
Try to establish a routine early on, so that the first day is not so hard on your child (or you).
Tell school stories. Speak to your child about school – what will happen, what they can expect and answer any questions they might have about going.
Teach independence. Your child should know how to do things on their own, let them dress themselves or clean up after they’ve eaten – small things to help them take a step in the right direction.
Give a token. If your child (and maybe you) suffers from separation anxiety, give them something to hold on to while you’re away. This can be something simple such as a paper heart to keep in their pocket.

Primary school

Going to the “big” school is both an exciting and scary time. And it doesn’t matter if it’s the first day of grade one or seven, there’ll always be anxiety. Here are a couple of ideas to help your child (and you) ease into going back to school.

Don’t go overboard with their lunches. Although a beautifully packed lunch is the ultimate goal, rather opt for a sustainable (both eating and making) and healthy option.
Make sure you have everything on the list needed for the year. These can become expensive very quickly, so be on the lookout for specials or buy in bulk with one of the other parents and split the costs and goods.
Labels! Label everything. From colouring books to jerseys, it will go missing.
Talk to your child about what they can expect, what they’re looking forwards to and what they’re nervous about.
Stay in touch. Ask them about their day, what they’ve learned, and help them with their homework and their extra-curricular activities.

High school

High school is such a strange time, isn’t it? Between preparing for their future and figuring out who they are, children also have to handle developmental challenges. Not to mention how they want to both have you around and far-far away. Is there any way you can prepare for your child to go to high school? Read on.

Invest in a calendar. Having a visual representation of when things should be done and seeing everything on their plate, will help them plan better.
Find out what kind of extra-curricular activities they would like to participate in, but don’t allow them to overcommit to things.
Make sure they have everything they require for the new school year – clothes, stationary, etc.
If you still know how to do high school homework, great, help your child with their homework (just stay patient and keep calm), if not, hire a tutor or send them for extra classes.
Help them set the goals they want to reach and assist them where you can. Just don’t put too much pressure on them; straight As aren’t always possible.
Make sure that your child gets enough sleep as they are still developing.

University

Can you still remember the first day you dropped your little one off at preschool? Now look how far they’ve come. Regardless of how brave a face they put on, going to university is scary. Here are a couple of tips on how you can help your child.

Start early. University is a lot of fun, but if they leave everything to the last minute, they will run into trouble.
They should get to know their lecturers. Lecturers are there to assist, although they are people too, and if students mess about they might not be as forthcoming.
Find out what resources are available and use them. More than the library and online journals, etc., some universities also offer career counselling and more.
Stick to a study schedule. To rest and have fun is important, however, they’re there to learn and better themselves.
They should learn how to reference and always site their sources! Not only might they fail their paper if they’re caught plagiarising, but they might even get expelled.

Work and study

It’s not just children going back to school; many working adults are also furthering their education. Working and studying (while caring for your family) is possibly one of the hardest things you can do. We found a couple tips to assist you through this difficult time.

Plan! You need to develop a doable study schedule and stick to it. Breaking things down into smaller chunks will make it easier to get through all the work.
Stay realistic. There is only so much humanly possible, regardless of how hard you work. Also, remember that you have to make time for life as well.
The sooner, the better. The sooner you start, the easier it’ll be later down the line.
Stop procrastinating. Once you’ve allowed yourself to skip a study session, you’ll be willing to do so again. Stick it out – it will be worth it in the end.
Take care of yourself. Yes, you’ll have to make sacrifices, but it’s important for you to stay healthy and get enough sleep.

Information sources: Fun-a-day, parents.com, The telegraph, Kidspot, The Huffington Post, love to know, American University