Help Your Child Look Forward to School

The much-anticipated vacation is over. Let's face it. It is back-to-school time. The time to hear the morning chorus from your little ones 'Mom, it's a holiday today!' or 'I don't want to go to school.' Getting back to school can bring mixed feelings. Toddlers go through the pangs of separation again. They may cling more to parents. Some may forget their toilet training. At times like these children need some extra attention and reassurance.

For some parents school is the best thing that can happen to them. After days of having to keep active children occupied, sending them to school will keep them busy and give parents some respite. For others it is getting their children back to a systematic routine that was given a break.

Reducing the first morning rush

Children need time to adjust. Here are a few tips that can help you get back to that perfect morning routine.

A few days before reopening day, take your child along the route they take to go to school. Talk about the familiar things they can spot. If they take the school bus, talk about their experiences and about other children who accompany them in the bus. Ask children for directions to their school as you approach so that they not only learn to give directions but also feel reassured that you know the way.

For the young children try and visit their class before their first day or accompany them on their first day. Ask them to point out their place in class, the place they keep their bags or water bottles. If it is not possible, take them around their school. This helps them get familiar with the setting and develop a sense of security.

Make sure all the school supplies that are required for the new term are bought well in advance. Check the school diaries for any instruction given by the teacher. Mark your child's name in any new item that is taken to school to avoid any issues arising out of mistaking similar things. Pack the school bags together with your child. Get them excited about going to school.

When you buy new shoes, jackets, raincoats for your child make sure they can take them on and off easily and on their own. As children grow older they will want things similar to what others wear in their class. Taking your child when you go shopping will help in selecting articles of their choice and avoid making another trip to the store for an exchange.

Getting back into the grid

Schools are mainly about setting routines and behaviours until they become a habit. Vacation time can be a slight set back to this experience. Get your children ready for a school routine a few days before school reopens. Help them get adjusted to the rhythm of wake up time, breakfast time, toilet time, TV watching time and bedtime.

Set a homework time and space. If your child has a holiday assignment make sure he or she does it at a specific time each day and at a specific place. Encourage them to keep all things from pencil to books required for their homework in one place. This will help them stick to their homework routine when school reopens.

If your child has joined for some hobby class or sports coaching, keep it going to maintain the interest. Try to integrate it into his school year. Do not classify it as something that is done only on vacation, or as an alternative to idling away at home.

During short holidays, keep up the learning spirit by visiting theme parks, museums, a ship at the docks (if you can manage a visit) or a local game. Learn and talk about different things that you can see there. Alternatively, you can engage them in brain games, word searches, reading adventures and trivia that will encourage them to stay in focus and complete a task. Making it a family affair will only add to the fun.

Most of all it is your enthusiasm that will determine your child's mood on his first day. Be excited and positive. If you speak to the teacher regarding your fears about his first day or separation make sure the child does not overhear. Your apprehension and anxiety is quite likely to rub off on your child.

These are some simple tips that most of us as parents tend to follow quite unconsciously. But a little planning and routine will not only make going back to school something your kids will look forward to but will also help in the long run. Finally here is something that all kids will enjoy. Make the last day of your holiday a wacky celebration. Have a family get-together, a dinner party with some special holiday dishes and maybe even a cake to mark going back to school. They will remind you of this one if not anything else you may tend to overlook!