The start of a fresh new year can be full of promise and change. But January can also be a little daunting with all the back-to-school preparation. The key to getting everyone on track, and ensuring back to school stress relief, is in setting great routines, getting organised, and planning ahead. Consider this article your cheat sheet, packed with top tips and super strategies for managing all of the tasks required at this busy time of year.
Tackling the Physical Organisation of Back To School
Take the Easy Approach to School List Shopping
Stocking up on all the books, pens and paper they need is a big job... but you can take away the stress, and beat the back to school rush, by outsourcing this tricky task to the Officeworks School List Service. Simply upload your school list online, make your payment and select your preferred pickup date and store. For no extra charge, the team at Officeworks will pick and pack everything, before you collect your package via Click and Collect in store. It sounds almost too good to be true, doesn’t it? Happily, it’s not.
Set up Their Study Space
A tidy and well-stocked workstation will encourage good homework habits and set them in good stead for their academic future. Before they start back at school, make sure you’ve got a sturdy table and comfortable chair set-up for each child. Other essentials you may need: a cup of pens and pencils, a notepad and a pair of headphones (to prevent distractions). There are many theories on the best types of sounds to listen to to promote productivity and concentration, but a track of nature sounds is a good bet to improve focus. Add the finishing touch with a cork board for displaying To Do lists, mementos and merit awards.
What To Try
- Sheffield 2 Drawer 1115mm Desk White and Oak
- Bedford Ergonomic Student Chair
- Otto Diamond Metal A4 Pen Cup Teal
- PaperMate InkJoy 100 Ballpoint Pens Assorted 10 Pack
- Spirax No. 563B Note Pad 300 Page
- JBL JR310 Kids On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones Red
- J.Burrows Aluminium Frame Cork Board 1200 x 900mm
Get All Their Gear Together
Write yourself a checklist of everything the kids will need and slowly start to tick things off. Feeling overwhelmed? Try tackling one item from the list per day. Consider school uniforms and backpacks first – these might need deep cleaning or repair work, or possibly replacing if your child has had a growth spurt over the holidays. It’s a good idea to have a uniform dress rehearsal a week before school starts so you can be sure that everything fits and nothing has gone missing (we’re looking at you, school hat). Next, attack the essentials like lunch boxes, drink bottles and sport shoes. Check their condition and shop for replacements if necessary.
What To Try
- Otto Monochrome Bird To Do List with Pencil
- High Sierra Opie 2 Backpack Black
- Smash Stainless Steel Mini Snack Pots 60mL 3 Pack
- Studymate Double Wall Steel Drink Bottle 480mL Black
SEE ALSO: How to Make a Weekly Timetable With Your Kids
Addressing the Mental Prep of Back-To-School
Re-establish Those Robust Routines
Getting into the right headspace for school can be tough after a six-week break. Make life easier for everyone by starting a gradual transition back to old term-time routines. Practise waking up early and going to bed on time so that little brains and bodies are well-rested. Establish a regular night time routine around sitting down for dinner together, bath time and bedtime reading. Kids thrive on routine and repetition.
What To Try
- Philips TAR3306 FM Clock Radio
- Monkey and Chops Daily Routine Chart
- J.Burrows Monthly Planner Whiteboard 600 x 450mm Gold
Set Realistic Expectations
Before all the craziness begins, and life gets too busy, sit down with your kids and have a family meeting. On the agenda: discussing responsibilities for the year ahead. Write a list of chores and divvy them up among family members. Set the rules in terms of having screen time, doing homework, earning pocket money, and going to bed. Ensure everyone’s on the same page and knows what’s expected of them, and you’re guaranteed to have a smooth start to the school year.
What To Try
- J.Burrows Magnetic Erase Board Set White
- Spirax PP Top Opening Note Pad 200 x 127mm 300 Page
- Little Learner Papier Mache Money Box
Try Some Clever Brain Training
Holidays, with their slower pace and relaxed attitudes to screen time, tend to make us sleepy and sluggish in the brain department. Before the return to school, plan a few brain bootcamp sessions with puzzles, games and activities specially designed to get them thinking. Flashcards are fab for quizzing kids on basic facts, while working on a jigsaw puzzle can improve their attention span and problem-solving skills. STEM activities, like conducting a science experiment or building with a construction set, boost creativity while also encouraging critical thinking.
What To Try
- Learning Can Be Fun Early Learning Flashcards 3 Pack
- Kadink Large Flashcards 30 Pack Alphabet
- Ravensburger Eiffel Tower 3D Puzzle
- Hinkler Human Body Puzzle 500 Piece
- Chaotic Kitchen Experiments
- K'NEX Dino Dudes Building Set 100 Pieces
SEE ALSO: STEM 101: Unexpected STEM Learning Activities Kids Can Try at Home
Embracing the Emotional Side of Back-To-School
Encourage Communication
The best way to prepare your kids emotionally for a new school year is to talk to them and ask plenty of questions. Find out how they’re feeling, and what they’re expecting, and if you can, assuage any feelings of stress, anxiety or fear that might be lurking about. Talking about the school year around the dinner table might be a good idea. Or some parents find difficult topics are best brought up in the car, or while walking or cooking together, which allows for “sideways listening”, a strategy where parent-child chat is spontaneous, relaxed and child-led.
Plan a Celebration
Without going overboard, find small ways to turn the start of the school year into a happy and exciting time for your kids. Make their favourite breakfast on the first day, snap funny school photos with a 2023 sign, or plan an after-school snack session and go out for milkshakes or ice cream to debrief on the day’s events. Even if you yourself are feeling flat or a wee bit worried, promoting a positive and upbeat attitude around the return to school can be good for everyone.
SEE ALSO: Expert Tips to Capture and Keep First-Day-of-School Memories
Give Friendly Reminders
Dip their toes back in the water, so to speak, by driving or walking past school in the lead-up to the first day back. Likewise, try touching base with other school parents and plan a playdate or two so that old friendships can be rekindled after time spent apart. Another idea? Scroll through some photos together and relive happy moments from the last school year, like Crazy Hair Day or Book Week. These are just a few ways you can remind your kids about the positive aspects of school – the fun times and the friendships that schools can cultivate.
